Part 9/12:
He emphasized that, under statutes, releasing grand jury transcripts or exhibits without approval from the court or a statutory exception is a felony. Courts are bound by these secrecy laws, which serve important investigative and privacy functions.
Tim pointed out the unusual nature of this unsealing, given Epstein's death before trial. Under law, a case dismissed upon a defendant’s death before trial is presumed to be sealed, technically maintaining the confidentiality of grand jury records. The law governing Epstein’s case has specific provisions for releasing his files, but conflicts emerged because the general statute prohibits disclosure.