DeSantis signs bill to allow release of Epstein grand jury files

PALM BEACH, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill permitting the release of 2006 grand jury documents relating to convicted sex offender and now-deceased Jeffrey Epstein.

He said the measure is “long overdue.” He noted the bill applies to “similar” cases, not just Epstein’s.

It was DeSantis’ first major bill signing of the 2024 Legislative Session.

Several victims of Epstein attended and spoke at the press conference, including Haley Robson and Jena-Lisa Jones.

Both expressed that they are still grappling with trauma from Epstein’s actions and hope that the release of these documents help deliver them more answers.

DeSantis made the announcement Thursday at a press conference at the Palm Beach Police Department.

“There needs to be a mechanism [where] people can get the truth,” he said. “This is in the interest of justice to disclose.”

The bill expands the rules for allowing the release of evidence and/or testimony from a grand jury.

The proposal was bipartisan and passed both the Florida House of Representatives and Senate unanimously.

Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, filed the Senate legislation. Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, R-Highland Beach, sponsored the House bill.

Polsky said after DeSantis’ bill signing that she was “honored” to sponsor the legislation.

“[I] am happy to see that this year it is also a priority of the governor,” Polsky said. “The public and the victims deserve to know if prosecutors steered the jury away from indicting Epstein on more severe charges.”

“We need to know if the system worked or failed in the pursuit of justice of this heinous individual. I look forward to the transparency the legislation will provide to the people of Florida,” she said.

Quickly after its passage, DeSantis declared he would sign the bill.

“All files related to Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal activity should be made public,” DeSantis said. “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.”

At the time, after a 2006 investigation, Epstein escaped with far less severe punishment relating to allegations regarding his solicitation of minors for sexual activity.

Gossett-Seidman said that victims of Epstein deserve to know more about testimony against Epstein in the Florida case.

The legislation notably applies when the subject of a grand jury investigation is “deceased.” Epstein passed in 2019.

It also applies when the grand jury investigation was related to “criminal or sexual activity between the subject [and] a minor at the time of the [activity].”

However, it notes that the court can still issue redactions and other restrictions on releasing testimony.

As a result of the investigation into Epstein as part of a criminal inquiry in Florida, Epstein only ended up serving just over a year in custody.

Concerns also arose as a result of the conclusions from the case, where only one who alleged abuse by Epstein testified in front of the grand jury.

The law takes effect July 1.