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The US Justice Department has renewed its efforts to obtain access to grand jury documents from the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, which ultimately led to his sex-trafficking charges in 2019.

Lawmakers' Move Prompts Renewed Legal Initiative

The latest request, signed by the federal prosecutor for the southern district, states that Congress made it apparent when authorizing the publication of probe records that these legal files should be made public.

"The congressional action took precedence over standing rules in a manner that permits the unsealing of the federal jury documents," stated the justice department.

Deadline Factors

The filing petitioned the Manhattan federal court to act promptly in releasing the documents, noting the 30-day window created after the measure was signed into law last week.

Earlier Motion Faced Denial

However, this latest attempt comes after a prior request from the former administration was denied by the presiding judge, who cited a "significant and compelling reason" for keeping the records sealed.

In his recent judgment, the judge noted that the 70 pages of jury testimony and exhibits, including a slide deck, communication logs, and written communications from victims and their lawyers, are minimal compared to the federal vast repository of investigative files.

"The prosecution's massive collection of Epstein files dwarf the limited grand jury materials," noted the magistrate in his judgment, adding that the motion appeared to be a "diversion" from making public files already in the prosecution's control.

Content of the Grand Jury Documents

The grand jury materials primarily consist of the account of an FBI agent, who served as the lone witness in the federal jury hearings and reportedly had "little firsthand information of the investigative specifics" with testimony that was "largely unverified."

Security Considerations

The presiding judge highlighted the "possible threats to victims' safety and privacy" as the persuasive factor for maintaining the documents confidential.

Similar Legal Matter

A parallel motion to unseal grand jury testimony relating to the legal case of Epstein's co-conspirator was also denied, with the presiding judge observing that the government's request incorrectly indicated the sealed records contained an "unexplored treasure trove of unrevealed details" about the case.

Recent Developments

The latest petition comes soon after the designation of a new prosecutor to investigate his associations with well-known politicians and several months after the firing of one of the main lawyers working on the proceedings.

When asked about how the ongoing investigation might influence the release of Epstein files in government possession, the Attorney General responded: "We cannot comment on that because it is now a pending investigation in the New York district."