US District Judge Paul Engelmayer, a President Barack Obama appointee, concluded that the government failed to make a compelling case for disclosure of the grand jury testimony, which typically remains sealed.

“The Government does not seek tailored disclosure of discrete items within a grand jury record,” Engelmayer wrote in his opinion.

“Nor does it seek leave to disseminate grand jury materials to a specified audience. It seeks disclosure to the public at large of the entire proceedings before the Maxwell grand jury, subject only to redactions aimed at protecting privacy.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi petitioned for the release July 18 amid ongoing controversy over the Epstein case.

Engelmayer took note of the political interest in his ruling, but stressed that it didn’t impact his decision.

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