Gov. Ron DeSantis Signs Bill Authorizing Release of Jeffrey Epstein Docs

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed legislation that will allow the release of long-sealed grand jury records from an investigation into disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who ran a global child sex trafficking network.

Following a 2006 investigation into Epstein, the Palm Beach Police Department asked the state attorney to bring multiple felony charges, including sexual activity with a minor and lewd or lascivious molestation.

The state attorney declined to charge Epstein directly, instead presenting evidence to a grand jury, which ensured the name of those involved and details of the accusations remained secret.

“The public deserves to know who participated in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking,” DeSantis said in a press release. “Nobody should be protected from facing justice due to their wealth or status, and those who harm children should be exposed and punished to the fullest extent of the law.”

HB 117 will amend existing state law to allow courts to release grand jury testimony in cases that further a public interest. Epstein grand jury documents will be able to be disclosed if the following conditions are met:

• 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.


• The state attorney is notified.

Epstein died in 2019 from an alleged suicide while he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Federal prosecutors accused him of paying underage girls for massages at his various properties, where he molested them afterwards.

"What was going on in Florida was only a fraction of what was happening," DeSantis told reporters while discussing the legislation. "This was a massive, massive operation here that was targeting these very, very young girls and to not have justice on this is something that has been a big black spot on our justice system."

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“Palm Beach County and the victims suffered from Epstein’s vile behavior before the world ever knew his name,” Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman said in the press release. “I followed the story as we parents kept our kids close, but we never stopped seeking the truth. The police investigated relentlessly, and now the Governor opens up the last chapter of this sordid story.”

The new legislation will take effect on July 1.