Florida Senate passes bill to set release of Epstein grand jury docs
Editor’s note: Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday evening he will sign this legislation.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Senate gave final approval to a bill that would permit the release of documents relating to convicted sex offender and now-deceased Jeffrey Epstein as part of a 2006 Florida grand jury investigation.
The bill expands the rules for allowing the release of evidence and/or testimony from a grand jury.
Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, filed the legislation. It passed the floor unanimously, 37-0.
At the time, Epstein escaped with far less severe punishment relating to allegations regarding his solicitation of minors for sexual activity.
The Florida House of Representatives passed the bill last week unanimously. The House version was filed by Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, R-Highland Beach.
Gossett-Seidman has 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 Senate’s passage was the last stop in the Florida Legislature. DeSantis said he will sign the legislation. If signed, it would take effect on July 1.
“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.”
