Openai/69683f33-018c-800b-835d-41608d476106

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User: What Democrat appointed judge’s have halted the release of the Epstein files?

What Democrat appointed judge’s have halted the release of the Epstein files?

Assistant: Here’s a clear summary of the Democrat-appointed judges who have blocked or denied efforts to release parts of the Jeff…

Here’s a clear summary of the Democrat-appointed judges who have blocked or denied efforts to release parts of the Jeffrey Epstein files (especially grand jury materials) in recent actions related to unsealing them:

Epstein Files — Judges Halting Release Attempts (major rulings)PBSJudge won't unseal transcripts of grand jury that indicted Epstein ex-girlfriend MaxwellAug 14, 2025Courthouse NewsFlorida judge blocks DOJ access to Epstein filesAug 14, 2025ABC NewsJudge denies DOJ's request to unseal Epstein grand jury recordsSep 14, 2025

✅ 1. U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer

• Appointed by: President Barack Obama (Democrat).
• Ruling: Denied the Department of Justice’s request to unseal grand jury transcripts connected with the Ghislaine Maxwell case and broader Epstein-related proceedings, saying the materials did not justify breaking grand jury secrecy rules. The Washington Post

✅ 2. U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg

• Appointed by: President Barack Obama (Democrat).
• Ruling: In Florida, she blocked the unsealing of grand jury materials from the 2005/2007 Epstein federal grand juries, finding that strict secrecy rules barred disclosure. ABC7 Los Angeles

✅ 3. U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman (initially denied)

• Appointed by: President Bill Clinton (Democrat).
• Ruling: At least in earlier rulings, he denied a DOJ motion to unseal grand jury materials related to Epstein’s 2019 federal case, saying that grand jury secrecy wasn’t overridden. Anadolu Ajansı - Note: Subsequent reporting indicates courts later ordered release of many materials under the new Epstein Files Transparency Act — but earlier blocks were from this same judge. The Washington Post

Important Context

• These judicial blocking decisions specifically concerned grand jury transcripts or sealed investigations, which are traditionally protected from disclosure unless extraordinary legal standards are met.
• The Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed by Congress and signed into law in November 2025, now requires most Epstein-related documents to be released to the public. This law has changed the legal landscape and led to newer release orders from some judges despite earlier blocks. Wikipedia

Summary — Democrat-Appointed Judges That Have Halted Epstein Release Attempts

| Judge | Appointed by | Action | | ------------------ | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Paul A. Engelmayer | Barack Obama (D) | Denied unsealing grand jury transcripts related to Epstein/Maxwell The Washington Post | | Robin L. Rosenberg | Barack Obama (D) | Blocked DOJ request to unseal older Epstein grand jury materials ABC7 Los Angeles | | Richard M. Berman | Bill Clinton (D) | Denied at least one request to unseal grand jury material earlier in the process Anadolu Ajansı |

If you’d like, I can also briefly explain how the Epstein Files Transparency Act changes these cases and what has been released so far under it.