<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A US judge overnight rejected a Trump administration request to unseal transcripts from grand jury investigations of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/jeffrey-epstein" rel="" target="_blank" title="Jeffrey Epstein"><span>Jeffrey Epstein</span></a><span> years ago in Florida, though a similar records request is pending in New York.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>US District Judge Robin Rosenberg in West Palm Beach said the request to release grand jury documents from 2005 and 2007 did not meet any of the extraordinary exceptions under federal law that could make them public.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Justice Department last week asked the judge to release records to quell a storm among supporters of President Donald Trump who believe there was a conspiracy to protect Epstein’s clients, conceal videos of crimes being committed and other evidence.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/vanuatua-climate-change-case-icj-says-failing-to-protect-planet-from-climate-change-could-violate-international-law/4546ab47-135a-4f27-804b-63bb622e5b18" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Urgent and existential': UN's top court makes historic climate ruling</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In 2008, Epstein cut a deal with federal prosecutors in Florida that allowed him to escape more severe federal charges and instead plead guilty to state charges of procuring a person under 18 for prostitution and solicitation of prostitution.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The wealthy financier later was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, was charged with helping him abuse teenage girls.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/judge-rejects-trump-administration-effort-to-unseal-epstein-grand-jury-records-in-florida/0fb9627c-06d4-4a4a-bab3-15b070719de2" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/new-york-staten-island-baby-girl-thrown-down-garbage-chute-man-in-custody/6c4ecc51-1dc7-41e2-a8eb-ab93cf98ed2e" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Baby girl thrown down garbage chute in New York</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in New York City about a month after he was arrested. Investigators concluded he killed himself.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Maxwell later was convicted at trial and sentenced to 20 years in prison.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The case attracted attention because of Epstein and Maxwell’s links to famous people, including royals, presidents and billionaires. It also led to some of the biggest conspiracy theories animating Trump’s base.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636.</span></strong></div></div>