Two federal judges have rejected efforts to unseal grand jury records tied to the decades-long Jeffrey Epstein scandal—delivering a procedural blow to President Donald J. Trump’s push for full transparency in the case that implicated powerful elites around the globe.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg ruled that her Florida court lacked the authority to grant the Trump administration’s request to release transcripts from grand juries convened in 2005 and 2007 as part of the original Epstein investigation.

“Eleventh Circuit [federal appeals court] law does not permit this Court to grant the Government’s request; the Court’s hands are tied—a point the Government concedes,” Rosenberg wrote in a 12-page opinion, according to Fox News.

Despite the ruling, the Trump administration remains undeterred. The President has called for a sweeping declassification effort aimed at exposing the full scope of Epstein’s sex trafficking network—an operation that many suspect reached deep into elite political and financial circles.

The sealed grand jury records come from the initial investigation that ended with Epstein receiving a sweetheart deal under the Bush-era U.S. Attorney's Office—allowing the financier to plead guilty to minor state charges and serve just 13 months in jail, often on “work release.”

In a separate courtroom Wednesday, Judge Paul Engelmayer in Manhattan denied a parallel request by Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who sought access to Florida grand jury materials in connection with an ongoing judicial review.

“There is no justification for Maxwell to obtain the extraordinary relief of plenary access to the grand jury transcripts in her case,” Engelmayer ruled, though he ordered the Department of Justice to submit the transcripts to the court for review by July 28.

The judge stated that portions of the documents could potentially be shared with Maxwell’s defense team if they are deemed relevant. It was the first formal judicial obstacle to President Trump’s declassification initiative.

Last week, Trump announced that Attorney General Pam Bondi had been directed to pursue the unsealing of Epstein-related records in the name of public accountability.

“Because of the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein,” Trump said, the American people deserve to know the truth. The administration has also filed a motion in Manhattan federal court seeking to unseal grand jury materials related to Epstein’s 2019 indictment and Maxwell’s prosecution.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, leading the charge, argued in court filings that the public has a right to understand the full breadth of Epstein’s criminal enterprise.

Earlier this month, the DOJ and FBI released a joint memo detailing the results of a comprehensive review of Epstein’s files. That internal audit reportedly found no new evidence to justify further charges—but questions remain.

Now, in a striking move, the DOJ has contacted Ghislaine Maxwell for a formal meeting.

“Justice demands courage. For the first time, the Department of Justice is reaching out to Ghislaine Maxwell to ask: what do you know?” Blanche posted on X. “At @AGPamBondi’s direction, I’ve contacted her counsel. I intend to meet with her soon. No one is above the law—and no lead is off-limits,” he added, according to CNN.

Attorney General Bondi echoed the message in a separate statement: “If Ghislaine Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say.”

Maxwell’s attorney confirmed discussions are underway. “Ghislaine will always testify truthfully. We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case,” said her lawyer David Oscar Markus.

When asked about the DOJ’s outreach, President Trump told reporters, “I didn’t know that they were going to do it. I don’t really follow that too much. It’s sort of a witch hunt.” Still, he voiced support for Blanche’s initiative, saying the move “sounds appropriate.”

Despite legal setbacks, the Trump administration continues its aggressive pursuit of the truth behind Epstein’s network—and the names behind the scandal that the political establishment would prefer to keep buried.