# Epstein Files Timeline: The Case, the Court Records and the Releases

The Jeffrey Epstein case from the 2005 Palm Beach police investigation and the 2008 plea deal through his 2019 federal arrest and death, Ghislaine Maxwell's conviction, the unsealing of court records, the Epstein Files Transparency Act and the Justice Department's releases and the court fights over them. As of September 24, 2026.

- Interactive timeline: https://www.timelinetraveler.com/timeline/epstein-files-timeline
- Last updated: 2026-09-24
- 81 events in 6 lanes: Criminal cases against Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Civil suits and court unsealing, Congress and the law, DOJ and FBI, Reporting and survivors
- Times are shown in America/New_York.

## Events

Events are in date order. Indented events happen within the event above them.

- **Mar 2005 – Jul 22, 2009** · Criminal cases against Epstein · **The Florida case and the non-prosecution agreement**: From a 2005 police complaint in Palm Beach to Epstein's release from county custody in 2009. A federal investigation that had drafted a 60-count indictment ended instead in a non-prosecution agreement and a state guilty plea.
  Sources: [DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility, Executive Summary of Report on the Epstein Investigation (November 2020)](https://www.justice.gov/opr/page/file/1336471/dl); [Wikipedia: Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein)
  - **Mar 2005** · Criminal cases against Epstein · **Palm Beach police open an investigation**: The parents of a 14-year-old girl told the Palm Beach Police Department that Epstein had paid her for a massage that led to sexual activity. Detectives found that Epstein used assistants to recruit girls to his home, according to the Justice Department's later review.
    Sources: [DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility, Executive Summary (November 2020)](https://www.justice.gov/opr/page/file/1336471/dl); [Wikipedia: Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein)
  - **2006** · Criminal cases against Epstein · **FBI and federal prosecutors open a case**: An assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of Florida opened a federal file in mid-2006 with the knowledge of U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta. Working with two FBI agents, she identified additional victims.
    Sources: [DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility, Executive Summary (November 2020)](https://www.justice.gov/opr/page/file/1336471/dl); [Wikipedia: Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein)
  - **Jul 19, 2006** · Criminal cases against Epstein · **State grand jury indicts Epstein on one count**: A Palm Beach County grand jury indicted Epstein for felony solicitation of prostitution. The police chief and lead detective believed the single charge did not cover his conduct and referred the case to the FBI.
    Sources: [DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility, Executive Summary (November 2020)](https://www.justice.gov/opr/page/file/1336471/dl); [Wikipedia: Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein)
  - **May 2007** · Criminal cases against Epstein · **Prosecutor submits a 60-count draft indictment**: The line prosecutor gave her supervisors a draft 60-count federal indictment and a prosecution memo. At a July 31, 2007 meeting, the U.S. Attorney's Office instead offered to end the investigation if Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges.
    Sources: [DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility, Executive Summary (November 2020)](https://www.justice.gov/opr/page/file/1336471/dl); [ABA Journal: Epstein nonprosecution agreement stemmed from 'poor judgment,' DOJ ethics office says](https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/jeffrey-epstein-nonprosecution-agreement-stemmed-from-poor-judgment-doj-ethics-office-says)
  - **Sep 2007** · Criminal cases against Epstein · **Non-prosecution agreement signed**: Epstein agreed to plead guilty to two state felonies, serve 18 months in county jail and register as a sex offender. In return the U.S. Attorney's Office agreed not to prosecute him, four named co-conspirators or "any potential co-conspirators" in the district. Victims were not told before it was signed.
    Sources: [DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility, Executive Summary (November 2020)](https://www.justice.gov/opr/page/file/1336471/dl); [Wikipedia: Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein)
  - **Jun 30, 2008** · Criminal cases against Epstein · **Epstein pleads guilty in Florida state court**: Epstein pleaded guilty to felony solicitation of prostitution and to procurement of a minor for prostitution. The court sentenced him to 12 and 6 months, served consecutively, followed by 12 months of community control. He began serving that day in a Palm Beach County facility.
    Sources: [DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility, Executive Summary (November 2020)](https://www.justice.gov/opr/page/file/1336471/dl); [Wikipedia: Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein)
  - **Jul 7, 2008** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Victim sues over the plea deal**: A victim identified as Jane Doe filed an emergency petition in federal court in Florida alleging the government violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act by resolving the case without consulting victims. The case, later joined by Jane Doe 2, ran for more than a decade.
    Sources: [DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility, Executive Summary (November 2020)](https://www.justice.gov/opr/page/file/1336471/dl); [Wikipedia: Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein)
  - **Jul 22, 2009** · Criminal cases against Epstein · **Epstein released to home detention**: With time off for good behavior, Epstein served less than 13 months, much of it on the sheriff's work release program. He was released to a year of home detention and registered as a sex offender with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
    Sources: [DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility, Executive Summary (November 2020)](https://www.justice.gov/opr/page/file/1336471/dl); [Wikipedia: Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein)
- **Sep 2015 – May 2017** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Giuffre v. Maxwell defamation suit**: Virginia Giuffre sued Ghislaine Maxwell in federal court in New York after Maxwell publicly called Giuffre's statements about her "obvious lies". The case settled in 2017, but its sealed record became the subject of unsealing fights that lasted until 2024.
  Sources: [Wikipedia: Ghislaine Maxwell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghislaine_Maxwell); [U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Brown v. Maxwell; Dershowitz v. Giuffre (July 2, 2019)](https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Epstein.pdf)
- **Apr 6, 2018** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Miami Herald asks court to unseal the Giuffre file**: After the case had settled, the Miami Herald and reporter Julie K. Brown moved to intervene and unseal the entire docket of Giuffre v. Maxwell. The district court let them intervene but refused to unseal.
  Sources: [U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Brown v. Maxwell (July 2, 2019)](https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Epstein.pdf); [Wikipedia: Ghislaine Maxwell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghislaine_Maxwell)
- **Nov 28, 2018** · Reporting and survivors · **Miami Herald publishes "Perversion of Justice"**: Julie K. Brown's series examined the 2007 plea deal and the prosecutors who approved it. The Justice Department's ethics office later wrote that the report led to public outrage and scrutiny of the government's handling of the case.
  Sources: [DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility, Executive Summary (November 2020), citing the Miami Herald, Nov. 28, 2018](https://www.justice.gov/opr/page/file/1336471/dl); [Wikipedia: Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein)
- **Feb 21, 2019** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Judge rules prosecutors violated victims' rights**: U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra ruled that the government violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act by not telling victims about the non-prosecution agreement, and that letters describing the case as ongoing had misled them. After Epstein died the case was closed as moot.
  Sources: [DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility, Executive Summary (November 2020)](https://www.justice.gov/opr/page/file/1336471/dl); [Wikipedia: Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein)
- **Jul 2, 2019** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Appeals court orders Giuffre v. Maxwell records unsealed**: In a case brought by the Miami Herald, Alan Dershowitz and blogger Michael Cernovich, the Second Circuit ordered the summary judgment record unsealed and sent the remaining sealed filings back for document-by-document review. The first unsealed records were made public on August 9, 2019.
  Sources: [U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Brown v. Maxwell (July 2, 2019)](https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Epstein.pdf); [Wikipedia: Ghislaine Maxwell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghislaine_Maxwell)
- **Jul 6, 2019 – Aug 29, 2019** · Criminal cases against Epstein · **Federal sex trafficking case in New York**: The Southern District of New York charged Epstein with sex trafficking of minors in 2019. The case ended without a trial when he died in federal custody.
  Sources: [DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility, Executive Summary (November 2020)](https://www.justice.gov/opr/page/file/1336471/dl); [Courthouse News Service: NY prosecutors charge Jeffrey Epstein with sex trafficking](https://www.courthousenews.com/ny-prosecutors-charge-jeffrey-epstein-with-sex-trafficking/)
  - **Jul 6, 2019** · Criminal cases against Epstein · **Epstein arrested at Teterboro Airport**: Federal agents arrested Epstein at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey on a sealed indictment. Agents who searched his Manhattan house found thousands of photos of nude and partly nude females, including at least one believed to be a minor, prosecutors said.
    Sources: [DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility, Executive Summary (November 2020)](https://www.justice.gov/opr/page/file/1336471/dl); [CNN: Epstein operated a vast sex-trafficking network of underage girls, prosecutors say](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/08/us/jeffrey-epstein-monday-court-appearance); [Wikipedia: Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein)
  - **Jul 8, 2019** · Criminal cases against Epstein · **Sex trafficking indictment unsealed**: Prosecutors charged Epstein with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy. The indictment alleged that from at least 2002 to 2005 he recruited dozens of underage girls to his homes in Manhattan and Palm Beach and paid some of them to recruit others.
    Sources: [Courthouse News Service: NY prosecutors charge Jeffrey Epstein with sex trafficking](https://www.courthousenews.com/ny-prosecutors-charge-jeffrey-epstein-with-sex-trafficking/); [CNN: Epstein operated a vast sex-trafficking network, prosecutors say](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/08/us/jeffrey-epstein-monday-court-appearance)
  - **Jul 12, 2019** · DOJ and FBI · **Labor Secretary Acosta resigns**: Alexander Acosta, the former U.S. attorney whose office signed the 2007 agreement, had defended it at a July 10 press conference, saying it put Epstein in jail and gave victims a path to damages. Two days later he submitted his resignation as Secretary of Labor.
    Sources: [DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility, Executive Summary (November 2020)](https://www.justice.gov/opr/page/file/1336471/dl); [Wikipedia: Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein)
  - **Jul 18, 2019** · Criminal cases against Epstein · **Judge denies bail**: U.S. District Judge Richard Berman ordered Epstein held without bail pending trial. He was held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan.
    Sources: [DOJ Office of the Inspector General, Report 23-085 (June 2023)](https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/23-085.pdf); [Wikipedia: Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein)
  - **Jul 23, 2019, 01:27** · Criminal cases against Epstein · **Epstein found with a cloth around his neck**: Officers found Epstein in his cell with an orange cloth around his neck; his cellmate said he had tried to hang himself. He was placed on suicide watch, removed from it the next day and kept under psychological observation until July 30, with orders that he always have a cellmate.
    Sources: [DOJ Office of the Inspector General, Report 23-085 (June 2023)](https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/23-085.pdf); [Wikipedia: Death of Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Jeffrey_Epstein)
  - **Aug 9, 2019, 22:40** · Criminal cases against Epstein · **Cellmate moved out; no replacement assigned**: Epstein's cellmate was transferred out of the jail on August 9 and staff did not assign a new one, as the psychology department had required. The Inspector General found Epstein was left alone and unmonitored from about 10:40 p.m. No inmate counts were done after 4 p.m.
    Sources: [DOJ Office of the Inspector General, Report 23-085 (June 2023)](https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/23-085.pdf); [Wikipedia: Death of Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Jeffrey_Epstein)
  - **Aug 10, 2019, 06:30** · Criminal cases against Epstein · **Epstein found hanged in his cell**: Two staff members delivering breakfast at about 6:30 a.m. found Epstein hanged in his locked cell in the Special Housing Unit. He was taken to New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital and pronounced dead at 7:36 a.m. He was 66.
    Sources: [DOJ Office of the Inspector General, Report 23-085 (June 2023)](https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/23-085.pdf); [Wikipedia: Death of Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Jeffrey_Epstein)
  - **Aug 16, 2019** · Criminal cases against Epstein · **Medical examiner rules the death a suicide**: New York City Chief Medical Examiner Barbara Sampson ruled the cause of death hanging and the manner suicide, after what she called a careful review of all investigative information. Pathologist Michael Baden publicly disputed the finding.
    Sources: [Al Jazeera: Jeffrey Epstein death ruled suicide by hanging, medical examiner](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/8/16/jeffrey-epstein-death-ruled-suicide-by-hanging-medical-examiner); [Associated Press via Boston.com: Medical examiner rules Epstein death a suicide by hanging](https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2019/08/16/medical-examiner-rules-epstein-death-a-suicide-by-hanging/); [Wikipedia: Death of Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Jeffrey_Epstein)
  - **Aug 29, 2019** · Criminal cases against Epstein · **Indictment dismissed after victims speak in court**: At an August 27 hearing, more than a dozen women, including victims of the Florida conduct covered by the plea deal, spoke about the effect of Epstein's crimes. Judge Berman dismissed the indictment two days later.
    Sources: [DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility, Executive Summary (November 2020)](https://www.justice.gov/opr/page/file/1336471/dl); [Wikipedia: Death of Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Jeffrey_Epstein)
- **Nov 19, 2019** · DOJ and FBI · **Two jail officers charged with falsifying records**: Federal prosecutors charged the two officers on duty in the Special Housing Unit the night Epstein died with conspiracy and making false records. They were accused of signing count and round sheets for checks they did not perform.
  Sources: [U.S. Attorney's Office, SDNY: Correctional officers charged with falsifying records](https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/correctional-officers-charged-falsifying-records-august-9th-and-10th-metropolitan); [PBS NewsHour (AP): Epstein jail guards charged with falsifying records](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/epstein-jail-guards-charged-with-falsifying-records)
- **Jul 2, 2020** · Ghislaine Maxwell · **Ghislaine Maxwell arrested in New Hampshire**: The FBI arrested Maxwell, Epstein's longtime companion, in Bradford, New Hampshire. An indictment unsealed that day charged her with six counts, including enticing minors to travel for illegal sex acts and perjury. She pleaded not guilty on July 14 and was held without bail.
  Sources: [CNN: Ghislaine Maxwell arrested](https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/02/us/ghislaine-maxwell-jeffrey-epstein); [NHPR: Ghislaine Maxwell arrested in N.H.](https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2020-07-02/ghislaine-maxwell-accused-of-grooming-victims-for-jeffrey-epstein-arrested-in-n-h); [U.S. Attorney's Office, SDNY: United States v. Ghislaine Maxwell](https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/united-states-v-ghislaine-maxwell)
- **Nov 12, 2020** · DOJ and FBI · **DOJ ethics office faults the plea deal as "poor judgment"**: The Office of Professional Responsibility found no professional misconduct by the Florida prosecutors but concluded that Acosta's decision to resolve the case through the non-prosecution agreement was poor judgment. It found victims were not treated with the forthrightness and sensitivity the department expects.
  Sources: [DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility, Executive Summary (November 2020)](https://www.justice.gov/opr/page/file/1336471/dl); [ABA Journal: Epstein nonprosecution agreement stemmed from 'poor judgment'](https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/jeffrey-epstein-nonprosecution-agreement-stemmed-from-poor-judgment-doj-ethics-office-says)
- **Aug 2021 – Feb 15, 2022** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Giuffre v. Prince Andrew**: Giuffre sued Prince Andrew, alleging he sexually abused her at 17 while she traveled with Epstein. He strenuously denied the allegations. The case settled in February 2022 for an undisclosed sum and a donation to her charity, with no admission of liability.
  Sources: [PBS NewsHour (AP): Lawyers say settlement reached in Virginia Giuffre's lawsuit against Prince Andrew](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/lawyers-say-settlement-reached-in-virginia-giuffres-lawsuit-against-prince-andrew); [Al Jazeera: Prince Andrew settles sex abuse lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/15/prince-andrew-settles-sex-abuse-lawsuit-with-virginia-giuffre)
- **Aug 9, 2021** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Victims' compensation fund closes after paying $121 million**: The Epstein Victims' Compensation Program, paid for by Epstein's estate, announced its final awards. It received about 225 claims after opening in June 2020; about 150 claimants were found eligible, more than 92 percent accepted offers, and it paid $121 million.
  Sources: [ABC News: Jeffrey Epstein victims program shutting down with $121 million paid](https://abcnews.com/US/jeffrey-epstein-victims-program-shutting-121-million-paid/story?id=79344412); [UPI: Fund pays more than $121 million to victims of Jeffrey Epstein](https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2021/08/09/Fund-pays-more-than-121-million-to-victims-of-sex-offender-Jeffrey-Epstein/1071628528454/)
- **Nov 29, 2021 – Dec 29, 2021** · Ghislaine Maxwell · **Maxwell's trial in Manhattan**: Jury selection began on November 29, 2021 in Manhattan federal court. Four women who said Epstein abused them as teenagers testified, three of them under pseudonyms.
  Sources: [U.S. Attorney's Office, SDNY: United States v. Ghislaine Maxwell](https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/united-states-v-ghislaine-maxwell); [CNN: Ghislaine Maxwell guilty on five of six counts](https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/29/us/ghislaine-maxwell-trial-wednesday); [CBS News: Jury finds Ghislaine Maxwell guilty on charges tied to Epstein's sex trafficking ring](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/ghislaine-maxwell-verdict-2021-12-29/)
  - **Dec 29, 2021** · Ghislaine Maxwell · **Jury convicts Maxwell on five of six counts**: The jury found Maxwell guilty of sex trafficking of a minor, sex trafficking conspiracy, transporting a minor for illegal sex acts and two related conspiracy counts. It acquitted her on one count, enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts.
    Sources: [U.S. Attorney's Office, SDNY: Ghislaine Maxwell sentenced to 20 years in prison](https://justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/ghislaine-maxwell-sentenced-20-years-prison-conspiring-jeffrey-epstein-sexually-abuse); [CNN: Ghislaine Maxwell guilty on five of six counts](https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/29/us/ghislaine-maxwell-trial-wednesday); [CBS News: Jury finds Ghislaine Maxwell guilty](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/ghislaine-maxwell-verdict-2021-12-29/)
- **Jun 28, 2022** · Ghislaine Maxwell · **Maxwell sentenced to 20 years**: Judge Alison J. Nathan sentenced Maxwell to 240 months in prison for her role in a scheme, over about a decade, to sexually exploit and abuse multiple minor girls with Epstein. Prosecutors had sought 30 years or more.
  Sources: [U.S. Attorney's Office, SDNY: Ghislaine Maxwell sentenced to 20 years in prison](https://justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/ghislaine-maxwell-sentenced-20-years-prison-conspiring-jeffrey-epstein-sexually-abuse); [CNN: Ghislaine Maxwell sentenced to 20 years in prison](https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/28/us/ghislaine-maxwell-sentencing)
- **Jun 12, 2023** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **JPMorgan agrees to pay $290 million to Epstein victims**: JPMorgan Chase settled a class action by women who said the bank enabled Epstein's trafficking while he was a client, without admitting liability. A federal judge approved the settlement in November 2023.
  Sources: [CNN: JPMorgan reaches $290 million settlement with Jeffrey Epstein victims](https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/12/investing/jpmorgan-epstein-victims-settlement); [Courthouse News Service: JPMorgan Chase reaches $290 million settlement](https://www.courthousenews.com/jpmorgan-chase-reaches-290-million-settlement-with-epstein-sex-trafficking-victims/); [CNBC: JPMorgan's $290 million settlement wins approval by U.S. judge](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/09/jpmorgans-290-million-settlement-with-epstein-accusers-wins-approval-by-us-judge.html)
- **Jun 27, 2023** · DOJ and FBI · **Inspector General reports on the jail's failures**: The DOJ Inspector General found "negligence, misconduct, and outright job performance failures" by jail staff. It did not uncover evidence contradicting the FBI's finding of no criminality in how Epstein died, and video showed no one entering his tier overnight.
  Sources: [DOJ Office of the Inspector General: Investigation and Review of the BOP's Custody, Care, and Supervision of Jeffrey Epstein](https://oig.justice.gov/reports/investigation-and-review-federal-bureau-prisons-custody-care-and-supervision-jeffrey); [DOJ Office of the Inspector General, Report 23-085 (full text)](https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/23-085.pdf)
- **Jan 3, 2024** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Giuffre v. Maxwell documents unsealed**: Following a December 2023 order by Judge Loretta Preska, who found no justification for keeping more than 150 names of "John and Jane Does" sealed, the court began releasing filings in batches. Many people are named in the records only as contacts, witnesses or deposition subjects; being named is not an allegation of a crime.
  Sources: [ABC News: Court documents naming Jeffrey Epstein's associates unsealed](https://abcnews.com/US/court-documents-naming-jeffrey-epsteins-associates-unsealed-wednesday/story?id=106047160); [Fortune (AP): Documents naming people in the orbit of Jeffrey Epstein are unsealed](https://fortune.com/2024/01/03/jeffrey-epstein-sex-offender-documents-unsealed-names-new-york/)
- **Jul 1, 2024** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Florida judge releases 2006 grand jury transcripts**: Under a law Gov. Ron DeSantis signed in February 2024, Palm Beach Circuit Judge Luis Delgado released about 150 pages of testimony from the 2006 state grand jury. Witnesses described Epstein sexually abusing girls as young as 14 at his Palm Beach house.
  Sources: [WUSF (AP): Judge releases Jeffrey Epstein grand jury investigation transcripts](https://www.wusf.org/courts-law/2024-07-01/florida-judge-releases-transcripts-2006-grand-jury-investigation-jeffrey-epstein-sex-trafficking); [WQCS: Palm Beach Circuit Court judge releases transcripts of 2006 grand jury](https://www.wqcs.org/wqcs-news/2024-07-01/palm-beach-circuit-court-judge-releases-transcripts-of-2006-grand-jury-investigation-of-jeffrey-epsteins-sex-trafficking)
- **Sep 17, 2024** · Ghislaine Maxwell · **Appeals court upholds Maxwell's conviction**: The Second Circuit rejected Maxwell's argument that Epstein's 2007 non-prosecution agreement protected her, found the charges within the statute of limitations and upheld her 20-year sentence.
  Sources: [ABC News (AP): Appeals court upholds sex crimes conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell](https://abcnews.com/US/appeals-court-upholds-sex-crimes-conviction-jeffrey-epstein/story?id=113755904); [6abc (AP): Appeals court upholds conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell](https://6abc.com/post/appeals-court-upholds-sex-crimes-conviction-epstein-associate-ghislaine-maxwell/15314878/)
- **Feb 27, 2025** · DOJ and FBI · **Bondi releases "phase one" of the Epstein files**: Attorney General Pam Bondi published documents including flight logs, a contact book and an evidence list, most of them previously public. She said she had learned of thousands more pages and asked FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate why they had not been provided.
  Sources: [DOJ: Attorney General Pamela Bondi Releases First Phase of Declassified Epstein Files](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-pamela-bondi-releases-first-phase-declassified-epstein-files); [Wikipedia: Epstein files](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein_files)
- **Apr 2025** · Reporting and survivors · **Virginia Giuffre dies in Australia**: Giuffre, whose lawsuits brought much of the case record into public view, died at her farm in Western Australia at 41. Her family said she died by suicide after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking. Reports give the date as April 24 or 25.
  Sources: [NBC News: Virginia Giuffre dies](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/virginia-giuffre-one-jeffrey-epsteins-prominent-abuse-survivors-dies-s-rcna203027); [Wikipedia: Virginia Giuffre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Giuffre)
- **Jul 7, 2025** · DOJ and FBI · **DOJ and FBI memo: no "client list", no further releases**: A joint DOJ and FBI memo said a review of more than 300 gigabytes of material found no incriminating "client list" and no credible evidence Epstein blackmailed prominent people, and that no further disclosure was warranted. It said Epstein died by suicide and released jail video.
  Sources: [DOJ and FBI memorandum on the Epstein review (July 2025)](https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1407001/dl); [CNN: Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide and there's no 'client list,' Justice Department says](https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/07/politics/jeffrey-epstein-suicide-client-list-justice); [Al Jazeera: Epstein had no 'client list', died by suicide, US Justice Department says](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/7/epstein-no-client-list-died-suicide-justice-department-says)
- **Jul 15, 2025** · Congress and the law · **Massie and Khanna introduce the Epstein Files Transparency Act**: Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, introduced H.R. 4405 with Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican. The bill would require the Justice Department to publish its unclassified Epstein records while withholding information that identifies victims.
  Sources: [Wikipedia: Epstein Files Transparency Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein_Files_Transparency_Act); [Rep. Thomas Massie: Massie-Khanna Epstein Files Transparency Act passes House](https://massie.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395780)
- **Jul 17, 2025** · Reporting and survivors · **Wall Street Journal reports on a 2003 birthday letter**: The Journal reported that an album made for Epstein's 50th birthday included a letter bearing Donald Trump's name. Trump denied writing it and on July 18 sued the paper's publisher for $10 billion. A judge dismissed the suit in April 2026; Trump refiled in May.
  Sources: [Al Jazeera: Trump sues Wall Street Journal, Rupert Murdoch for $10bn over Epstein story](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/19/trump-sues-wall-street-journal-rupert-murdoch-for-10bn-over-epstein-story); [CNN: Trump refiles $10 billion lawsuit over Wall Street Journal report](https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/28/politics/trump-refiles-lawsuit-wall-street-journal-epstein)
- **Jul 18, 2025 – Dec 10, 2025** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **The fight over grand jury records**: Federal judges in Florida and New York first refused the Justice Department's requests to release grand jury material from the Epstein and Maxwell cases, citing grand jury secrecy. After Congress passed the Transparency Act, judges in both states allowed it.
  Sources: [CNN: Third federal judge grants request to unseal Jeffrey Epstein-related court records](https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/10/politics/new-york-judge-grants-unseal-epstein-records); [Wikipedia: Epstein files](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein_files)
  - **Jul 18, 2025** · DOJ and FBI · **DOJ asks courts to unseal grand jury testimony**: A day after President Trump said he had asked Bondi to produce grand jury testimony subject to court approval, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche filed motions in New York citing public interest. The department filed a similar request in Florida.
    Sources: [The Hill via Yahoo News: DOJ asks judge to unseal Epstein, Maxwell grand jury testimony](https://www.yahoo.com/news/doj-asks-judge-unseal-epstein-232813233.html); [Wikipedia: Epstein files](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein_files)
  - **Jul 23, 2025** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Florida judge denies release**: U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg said she lacked the legal power to release the Florida federal grand jury transcripts, citing an 11th Circuit ruling on grand jury secrecy.
    Sources: [PBS NewsHour (AP): Judge rejects DOJ's request to unseal Epstein grand jury transcripts in Florida](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/judge-rejects-dojs-request-to-unseal-epstein-grand-jury-transcripts-in-florida); [Wikipedia: Epstein files](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein_files)
  - **Aug 11, 2025** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Judge Engelmayer denies the Maxwell request**: In a 31-page order, Judge Paul Engelmayer called the government's premise that the material would reveal meaningful new information "demonstrably false". He noted that no victim, eyewitness or suspect had testified before the grand jury.
    Sources: [CNN: Federal judge rejects DOJ bid to unseal grand jury materials in Maxwell case](https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/11/politics/maxwell-epstein-grand-jury-files-rejected); [CBS News: Judge denies request to unseal grand jury material in Maxwell case](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ghislaine-maxwell-grand-jury-unseal-denied/)
  - **Aug 20, 2025** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Judge Berman denies the Epstein request**: Judge Richard Berman said the roughly 70 pages of testimony came from a single FBI agent with no direct knowledge of the facts, and called the motion a "diversion" from the much larger files the government held.
    Sources: [CNN: Judge rejects Trump administration request to release Epstein grand jury documents](https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/20/politics/jeffrey-epstein-grand-jury-documents-rejected-request); [CBS News: Judge declines to unseal grand jury material in Jeffrey Epstein case](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeffrey-epstein-grand-jury-judge/)
  - **Dec 5, 2025** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Florida judge allows release under the new law**: U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith held that the Epstein Files Transparency Act overrides grand jury secrecy rules and granted the department's renewed request for the records of the 2000s Florida federal investigation.
    Sources: [CNN: Federal judge in Florida orders unsealing of grand jury transcripts in Epstein investigation](https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/05/politics/epstein-transcript-records-judge-order); [ABC News: Florida judge grants DOJ motion to unseal Epstein grand jury transcripts](https://abcnews.com/US/florida-judge-grants-doj-motion-unseal-epstein-grand/story?id=128153706)
  - **Dec 9, 2025** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Engelmayer allows release of Maxwell grand jury material**: Engelmayer ruled that the Act covers the Maxwell grand jury material. He criticized the department for not notifying victims before seeking release and required officials to certify their review.
    Sources: [ABC News: Judge grants DOJ motion to release grand jury materials from Maxwell case](https://abcnews.com/US/judge-grants-doj-motion-release-grand-jury-materials/story?id=128243928); [U.S. District Court, SDNY: Opinion and Order, United States v. Maxwell (Dec. 9, 2025)](https://nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/2025-12/PAE%20Maxwell%20Opinion%202025.12.09%20(As%20Docketed).pdf)
  - **Dec 10, 2025** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Berman reverses and allows release**: Citing the new law, Berman ordered the 2019 grand jury transcripts unsealed, writing that the safety and privacy of victims were paramount.
    Sources: [MS NOW: Federal judge grants release of more Epstein documents](https://www.ms.now/news/federal-judge-grants-release-of-more-epstein-documents); [CNN: Third federal judge grants request to unseal Epstein-related records](https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/10/politics/new-york-judge-grants-unseal-epstein-records)
- **Jul 24, 2025 – Jul 25, 2025** · Ghislaine Maxwell · **Deputy Attorney General interviews Maxwell**: Todd Blanche questioned Maxwell over two days in Tallahassee, Florida, under a grant of limited immunity. The department released the transcripts and audio on August 22, 2025. Maxwell said she had not seen inappropriate conduct by several public figures she was asked about.
  Sources: [CNN: Read the Justice Department's interview with Ghislaine Maxwell](https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/22/politics/interview-transcript-ghislaine-maxwell-doj); [DOJ: Interview of Ghislaine Maxwell, transcript (July 24, 2025)](https://www.justice.gov/storage/audio-files/Interview%20Transcript/Interview%20Transcript%20-%20Maxwell%202025.07.24-cft%20(Redacted).pdf)
- **Aug 2025** · Ghislaine Maxwell · **Maxwell moved to a minimum-security camp**: The Bureau of Prisons moved Maxwell from the federal prison in Tallahassee to Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas, a women's camp with dormitory housing. The move after her meeting with Blanche drew questions in Congress about special treatment.
  Sources: [CNN: Ghislaine Maxwell's arrival at Texas prison camp sparks tension](https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/15/politics/ghislaine-maxwell-texas-federal-prison-camp-bryan); [Wikipedia: Ghislaine Maxwell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghislaine_Maxwell)
- **Aug 5, 2025** · Congress and the law · **House Oversight subpoenas the Justice Department**: Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer subpoenaed the Justice Department for its Epstein records. On September 2 the committee published 33,295 pages the department had produced; committee Democrats said about 97 percent were already public.
  Sources: [House Oversight Committee: Oversight Committee releases Epstein records provided by the Department of Justice](https://oversight.house.gov/release/oversight-committee-releases-epstein-records-provided-by-the-department-of-justice); [ABC News: Tens of thousands of Epstein-related records from DOJ released, Oversight Committee says](https://abcnews.com/US/epstein-files-release-doj-oversight-committee/story?id=125198408)
- **Sep 3, 2025** · Reporting and survivors · **Survivors speak at the Capitol**: Women who said Epstein and Maxwell abused them, several speaking publicly for the first time, joined Massie and Khanna at a news conference urging House members to sign the discharge petition that would force a vote on releasing the files.
  Sources: [ABC News: Epstein survivors speak out demanding files be released](https://abcnews.com/Politics/jeffrey-epstein-survivors-set-speak-capitol-hill/story?id=125211468); [NBC News: Epstein accusers put pressure on Congress to release the files](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/epstein-accusers-put-pressure-congress-release-files-rcna228762)
- **Sep 8, 2025** · Congress and the law · **Committee releases estate records, including the birthday book**: The Oversight Committee published documents from Epstein's estate, including a redacted copy of the 2003 birthday album. Committee Democrats posted an image of a page bearing Trump's name. The White House said the signature was not his, and Trump has denied writing it.
  Sources: [CNN: House committee releases 'birthday book' and other Epstein estate documents](https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/08/politics/epstein-estate-birthday-book-documents-house-oversight); [Wikipedia: Jeffrey Epstein's birthday book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein%27s_birthday_book)
- **Oct 6, 2025** · Ghislaine Maxwell · **Supreme Court declines Maxwell's appeal**: On the first day of its term, the Supreme Court declined to hear Maxwell's argument that the 2007 plea deal shielded her. Her lawyer said the fight "isn't over".
  Sources: [SCOTUSblog: Supreme Court will not address Ghislaine Maxwell's appeal](https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/10/supreme-court-declines-to-hear-ghislaine-maxwells-appeal/); [PBS NewsHour (AP): Supreme Court rejects appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/supreme-court-rejects-appeal-from-ghislaine-maxwell-former-girlfriend-of-jeffrey-epstein)
- **Nov 12, 2025** · Congress and the law · **Oversight publishes 20,000 more estate pages**: The committee released about 20,000 more pages it had received from Epstein's estate in response to its subpoena.
  Sources: [House Oversight Committee: Oversight Committee releases additional Epstein estate documents](https://oversight.house.gov/release/oversight-committee-releases-additional-epstein-estate-documents/); [KGNS (Gray News): House committee releases thousands of additional documents from Epstein estate](https://www.kgns.tv/2025/11/12/house-committee-releases-thousands-additional-documents-epstein-estate/)
- **Nov 12, 2025** · Congress and the law · **Discharge petition reaches 218 signatures**: Rep. Adelita Grijalva of Arizona signed minutes after being sworn in, becoming the 218th signature on the petition Massie had filed in September. That forced a floor vote. The signers were every Democrat and four Republicans.
  Sources: [ABC News: Grijalva sworn in, becomes key signature on Epstein files petition](https://abcnews.com/Politics/rep-elect-grijalva-sworn-months-after-special-election/story?id=127417242); [Roll Call: Epstein discharge petition picks up decisive signature](https://rollcall.com/2025/11/12/epstein-discharge-petition-picks-up-decisive-signature-in-the-house/)
- **Nov 18, 2025 – Nov 19, 2025** · Congress and the law · **The Epstein Files Transparency Act becomes law**: Over two days the bill passed the House and Senate and was signed by the President.
  Sources: [Wikipedia: Epstein Files Transparency Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein_Files_Transparency_Act); [DOJ: Department of Justice Publishes 3.5 Million Responsive Pages](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-publishes-35-million-responsive-pages-compliance-epstein-files)
  - **Nov 18, 2025** · Congress and the law · **House passes the bill 427 to 1**: After President Trump reversed course and urged Republicans to support it, the House passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act 427 to 1. Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana cast the only no vote.
    Sources: [Spectrum News: House, Senate overwhelmingly approve bill to force release of Epstein files](https://spectrumlocalnews.com/us/snplus/politics/2025/11/18/house-vote-epstein-files); [Al Jazeera: US Congress approves release of Epstein files](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/18/congress-passes-bill-to-release-epstein-files-sending-measure-to-trump); [Wikipedia: Epstein files](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein_files)
  - **Nov 18, 2025** · Congress and the law · **Senate passes it by unanimous consent**: Hours after the House vote, the Senate agreed by unanimous consent, at the request of Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, to pass the bill once it arrived from the House, sending it to the President.
    Sources: [Spectrum News: House, Senate overwhelmingly approve bill](https://spectrumlocalnews.com/us/snplus/politics/2025/11/18/house-vote-epstein-files); [TIME: Senate unanimously passes bill to force Epstein files release](https://time.com/7334902/epstein-files-released-house-vote/)
  - **Nov 19, 2025** · Congress and the law · **Trump signs the Epstein Files Transparency Act**: Public Law 119-38 required the Attorney General to publish all unclassified Epstein and Maxwell records within 30 days, by December 19. Victims' identifying information could be withheld; records could not be withheld for embarrassment, reputational harm or political sensitivity.
    Sources: [Wikipedia: Epstein Files Transparency Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein_Files_Transparency_Act); [DOJ: Department of Justice Publishes 3.5 Million Responsive Pages](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-publishes-35-million-responsive-pages-compliance-epstein-files)
- **Dec 19, 2025 – Mar 5, 2026** · DOJ and FBI · **Releases under the Transparency Act**: The Justice Department published its Epstein library in stages, missing the December 19 deadline for a complete release, then pulled and restored material as redaction errors surfaced.
  Sources: [DOJ: Epstein Library, DOJ Disclosures](https://www.justice.gov/epstein/doj-disclosures); [Wikipedia: Epstein files](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein_files)
  - **Dec 19, 2025** · DOJ and FBI · **First release under the law, on deadline day**: The department began posting several hundred thousand records, including photos, call logs, grand jury testimony and interview transcripts, many heavily redacted. Blanche said more would follow. Lawmakers of both parties criticized the partial release; Republican Rep. Thomas Massie wrote that officials were flouting the law.
    Sources: [PBS NewsHour (AP): Justice Department begins releasing long-awaited Epstein investigation files](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/justice-department-begins-releasing-long-awaited-epstein-investigation-files); [CNN: December 19, 2025, Jeffrey Epstein files released](https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/jeffrey-epstein-files-released); [Fortune: Blanche defends the Justice Department's partial Epstein files release](https://fortune.com/2025/12/21/todd-blanche-justice-department-epstein-files-impeachment-contempt-trump-redactions)
  - **Jan 30, 2026** · DOJ and FBI · **DOJ publishes 3 million more pages**: Blanche announced more than 3 million pages, 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, bringing the total to nearly 3.5 million pages, and said the department had complied with the law. About 6 million pages had been collected. The department warned that some records contain false or unverified claims sent to the FBI.
    Sources: [DOJ: Department of Justice Publishes 3.5 Million Responsive Pages in Compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-publishes-35-million-responsive-pages-compliance-epstein-files); [CBS News: DOJ releasing more than 3 million pages of records related to Jeffrey Epstein](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/deputy-attorney-general-todd-blanche-news-conference-30-1-2026/)
  - **Feb 1, 2026** · Reporting and survivors · **Survivors' lawyers ask judges to shut the website**: Lawyers Brad Edwards and Brittany Henderson told Judges Berman and Engelmayer they had found thousands of redaction failures affecting nearly 100 survivors, including one email listing 32 minor victims with only one name removed. The department took down several thousand documents to fix them.
    Sources: [KOMO News: Epstein victims' lawyers urge judges to order shutdown of DOJ files website](https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/jeffrey-epstein-victims-lawyers-brittany-henderson-and-brad-edwards-urge-judges-to-order-shut-down-of-justice-department-files-website-privacy-redactions-minors-deputy-attorney-general-todd-blanche-ghislaine-maxwell); [Wikipedia: Epstein files](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein_files)
  - **Feb 14, 2026** · DOJ and FBI · **DOJ sends Congress its list of officials and public figures**: As the Act's Section 3 requires, the department reported the categories it released and withheld and listed more than 300 government officials and "politically exposed persons" named anywhere in the files. The list does not describe the context; appearing on it is not an allegation of wrongdoing.
    Sources: [DOJ: Epstein Files Transparency Act, Section 3 Report to Congress (Feb. 14, 2026)](https://justice.gov/opa/media/1434856/dl?inline=); [CNN: Justice Department lists hundreds of prominent people named in Epstein files](https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/15/politics/doj-epstein-files-prominent-people)
  - **Mar 5, 2026** · DOJ and FBI · **Removed files are restored**: The department acknowledged taking down 47,635 files from the public library to redact personal information and sexual images, and said many would be reposted. About 50,000 files were back online by March 5.
    Sources: [Yahoo News: DOJ admits to removing nearly 48,000 Epstein files from database](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/doj-admits-removing-nearly-48-185553534.html); [Wikipedia: Epstein Files Transparency Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein_Files_Transparency_Act)
- **Feb 9, 2026** · Ghislaine Maxwell · **Maxwell invokes the Fifth before House Oversight**: In a closed-door virtual deposition, Maxwell declined to answer the committee's questions, citing her Fifth Amendment right. Her lawyer said she would testify if granted clemency. Chairman Comer said the committee had many questions about her and Epstein's crimes.
  Sources: [CBS News: Ghislaine Maxwell pleads the Fifth](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ghislaine-maxwell-house-oversight-committee-deposition-fifth-amendment/); [ABC News: Ghislaine Maxwell invokes 5th Amendment in closed-door House Oversight deposition](https://abcnews.com/Politics/maxwell-expected-invoke-amendment-closed-virtual-house-oversight/story?id=129991066)
- **Apr 2, 2026** · DOJ and FBI · **Trump removes Bondi; Blanche becomes acting attorney general**: President Trump announced that Attorney General Pam Bondi was leaving for a private-sector job, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche became acting attorney general. CBS News reported her handling of the Epstein files had become a growing political liability.
  Sources: [CBS News: Trump fires Pam Bondi as attorney general, installs Todd Blanche as acting AG](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-pam-bondi-attorney-general/); [CNN: Trump fires Pam Bondi as attorney general](https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/02/politics/pam-bondi-role-trump)
- **Apr 23, 2026** · DOJ and FBI · **Inspector General opens a review of compliance**: The DOJ Inspector General began a review of how the department identified, redacted, withheld and published records under the Act. A CBS News analysis found the public library had shrunk from more than 3 million pages to about 2.7 million after removals.
  Sources: [CBS News: Justice Department watchdog launches probe into compliance with Epstein files law](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/epstein-files-justice-department-inspector-general/); [NBC News: Government watchdog to review DOJ's handling of the Epstein files](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/government-watchdog-review-dojs-handling-epstein-files-rcna342513)
- **Apr 27, 2026 – Sep 24, 2026** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Phang v. Blanche**: Journalist Katie Phang's lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., is the first to test whether the Justice Department complied with the Transparency Act. It was ongoing as of September 24, 2026.
  Sources: [Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse: Phang v. Blanche, 1:26-cv-01417 (D.D.C.)](https://clearinghouse.net/case/48180/); [Wikipedia: Phang v. Blanche](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phang_v._Blanche)
  - **Apr 27, 2026** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Katie Phang sues the acting attorney general**: Phang alleged that the department improperly withheld, retracted and redacted records, failed to publish the redaction log the Act requires and did not review foreign-language material. The case went to U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan.
    Sources: [Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse: Phang v. Blanche](https://clearinghouse.net/case/48180/); [NBC News: Judge shows signs of frustration with DOJ attorneys over handling of Epstein files](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/judge-shows-signs-frustration-doj-attorneys-handling-epstein-files-rcna592418)
  - **Jun 25, 2026** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Judge Sullivan orders DOJ to unredact or explain**: Sullivan found Phang likely to succeed and ordered the department, by July 2, to remove or justify redactions in specific records, including eight emails and a draft indictment naming potential co-conspirators, to produce FBI interview notes and to publish a redaction log. The DOJ said it would appeal. News reports appeared June 26.
    Sources: [CBS News: Judge orders DOJ to either unredact more Epstein files or explain why](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-orders-doj-unredact-more-epstein-files-or-explain-why-blanche/); [Courthouse News Service: Feds struggle to explain redactions in Epstein files compliance case](https://www.courthousenews.com/feds-struggle-to-explain-redactions-in-epstein-files-compliance-case/)
  - **Aug 13, 2026** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Sullivan presses DOJ lawyers at a hearing**: Phang's lawyer said the department still had not produced a redaction log or foreign-language documents. When a DOJ official said information was "forthcoming", Sullivan replied, "Christmas is forthcoming." He raised the possibility of contempt.
    Sources: [NBC News: Judge shows signs of frustration with DOJ attorneys over handling of Epstein files](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/judge-shows-signs-frustration-doj-attorneys-handling-epstein-files-rcna592418); [The Washington Sun: Judge warns Blanche of possible contempt over Epstein files](https://www.washingtonsun.com/courts/judge-warns-todd-blanche-over-epstein-documents)
  - **Aug 24, 2026** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **DOJ files a protective notice of appeal**: The department filed a notice of appeal of the June injunction to the D.C. Circuit, calling it protective and saying it was not sure it had standing to appeal.
    Sources: [The Hill: Justice Department files protective notice to appeal Epstein document ruling](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6047840-doj-appeals-epstein-files-ruling/); [Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse: Phang v. Blanche](https://clearinghouse.net/case/48180/)
  - **Sep 16, 2026** · Civil suits and court unsealing · **Sullivan warns of possible contempt**: Sullivan ruled the department had not complied, rejected its arguments and ordered handwritten FBI interview notes and foreign-language material produced. He gave Blanche, confirmed as attorney general on August 8, until September 24 to comply or explain, writing that a contempt finding would be "premature" for now.
    Sources: [The Hill via Yahoo News: Judge gives Blanche deadline, warns of possible contempt charges](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/judge-gives-blanche-deadline-warns-153753864.html); [Newsweek: Judge issues Epstein files deadline and warning to DOJ](https://www.newsweek.com/reagan-appointed-judge-issues-epstein-files-deadline-to-trumps-doj-12457462); [CBS News: Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/todd-blanche-senate-vote-confirm-trump/)
- **Jul 16, 2026** · Congress and the law · **Epstein Files Transparency Act II introduced**: Sens. Ben Ray Lujan and Jeff Merkley and Reps. Massie, Khanna and Teresa Leger Fernandez introduced a follow-up bill letting state attorneys general, members of Congress and victims sue the Justice Department over withheld or redacted records, and giving victims access to unredacted records about themselves.
  Sources: [Sen. Ben Ray Lujan: Lujan, Merkley, Massie, Khanna, Leger Fernandez introduce the Epstein Files Transparency Act II](https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-merkley-massie-khanna-leger-fernandez-introduce-the-epstein-files-transparency-act-ii/); [Rep. Ro Khanna: Introduce the Epstein Files Transparency Act II](https://khanna.house.gov/media/press-releases/khanna-massie-leger-fernandez-merkley-lujan-introduce-epstein-files)
- **Aug 25, 2026** · Ghislaine Maxwell · **Judge rejects Maxwell's habeas petition**: In a 67-page opinion, Judge Engelmayer denied Maxwell's petition to vacate her conviction, which cited documents released under the Act, juror misconduct and the 2007 plea deal. He called it "demonstrably meritless" and based on "speculation, distortions, and/or outright falsehoods".
  Sources: [PBS NewsHour (AP): Federal judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell's bid for prison release](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/federal-judge-rejects-ghislaine-maxwells-miscarriage-of-justice-claim-and-bid-for-prison-release); [ABC News: Judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell's 'frivolous' attempt to overturn conviction](https://abcnews.com/US/judge-rejects-ghislaine-maxwells-attempt-overturn-conviction/story?id=135933815)
- **Sep 1, 2026** · Congress and the law · **Second discharge petition filed**: Massie filed a discharge petition to force a vote on the new bill. By September 21 it had 216 signatures, four of them Republican; Khanna said two Democrats who had been ill would sign when the House returns. A vote is not expected until after the November midterm elections.
  Sources: [Spectrum News 1: Massie seeks signatures to force vote on second Epstein files bill](https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2026/09/01/massie-discharge-petition-epstein); [Deseret News: Congress prepares for another fight over the Epstein files](https://www.deseret.com/politics/2026/09/21/epstein-files-get-another-moment-in-congress/); [The Washington Sun: Massie and Khanna have enough signatures for a second discharge petition](https://www.washingtonsun.com/congress/thomas-massie-ro-khanna-second-jeffrey-epstein-files-discharge-petition)
- **Sep 16, 2026** · Congress and the law · **House holds Leon Black in contempt of Congress**: The House voted to hold the investor in contempt for not appearing at a deposition or producing nondisclosure agreements the Oversight Committee subpoenaed, referring him to the U.S. attorney in Washington. Black, who has sued the committee, has not been accused of wrongdoing by law enforcement and denies knowing of Epstein's crimes.
  Sources: [NBC News: House votes to hold Leon Black in contempt of Congress](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-leon-black-contempt-of-congress-jeffrey-epstein-probe-rcna598186); [House Oversight Democrats: Statement on holding Leon Black in contempt](https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/ranking-member-robert-garcia-statement-on-holding-leon-black-in-contempt)

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