Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation to make documents from Jeffrey Epstein’s 2006 grand jury investigation public.
The grand jury pertained to allegations against Epstein that he sexually assaulted underage girls.
“All files related to Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal activity should be made public. While the federal government continues to stonewall accountability, I’m glad the Legislature has taken action to release the grand jury material from the Florida state case. I will sign the bill into law,” DeSantis previously said.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” DeSantis said at a news conference.
"Today I signed HB 117, authorizing the public release of grand jury documents like those in the Jeffrey Epstein case. Nobody should be above the law, regardless of wealth, status, or connections. The public deserves to know who participated in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operation, and the survivors deserve justice," DeSantis said Thursday.
Today I signed HB 117, authorizing the public release of grand jury documents like those in the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Nobody should be above the law, regardless of wealth, status, or connections. The public deserves to know who participated in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking…
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) February 29, 2024
WATCH:
#BREAKING: Gov. Ron DeSantis signs legislation allowing release of Florida grand jury Epstein documents alongside victims
"That's in the books. A long time coming." pic.twitter.com/fplGSllqkV
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) February 29, 2024
NewsNation reports:
HB-117, which would become effective July 1, creates a narrowly tailored exception for a judge to order the release of the grand jury records from a 2006 criminal investigation into Epstein.
Grand jury transcripts can be released, according to the new law, if the subject of the grand jury inquiry is dead, the investigation was about sexual activity with a minor, the testimony was previously disclosed by a court order and a state attorney is notified.
Under the law, a judge could release the transcripts sooner than July as part of a lawsuit filed by the Palm Beach Post. In 2019, the newspaper sued the Palm Beach County state attorney and court clerk for a court order to unseal the grand jury proceedings and reveal why it returned only minimal charges.
Asked when the documents could be made available, DeSantis said he doesn’t think it should take “forever and a day.”
“This has been my goal from the beginning, to find a way for the grand jury records to be released so Jeffrey Epstein’s victims and our community can get the answers they deserve,” Palm Beach County Court Clerk Joseph Abruzzo previously said.
“Two years ago, I said that the Florida Legislature was the best option for the grand jury records to be released. Thanks to the Florida Legislature’s actions today, I am proud to deliver on my promise that I would leave no stone unturned to have these records released for full transparency to the public,” he added.
From The Hill:
Prosecutors in Florida brought one victim before the jury in Epstein’s case even with law enforcement saying the wealthy financier sexually abused several girls, according to Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown’s book “Perversion of Justice.”
The new law was already cited by the local judge, who denied the release of the jury’s record, according to The Associated Press. The Palm Beach Post filed the lawsuit to obtain records. Circuit Judge Luis Delgado, who denied the release citing the current statute, said he would consider the petition when the new legislation takes effect in July.
A federal judge unsealed names of Epstein’s associates in January in a different lawsuit involving one of his accusers and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
NewsNation shared the full press conference:
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!