Night Owl News Archives - 11/19/2025
Handling Sealed Records in Open Court Cases for Epstein Files If there are open court cases involving sealed records related to Jeffrey Epstein, the declassification and release of those materials—whether via presidential executive order or the newly passed Epstein Files Transparency Act—faces substantial legal hurdles. Sealed records are typically protected to safeguard the integrity of ongoing judicial proceedings, victim privacy, and investigative confidentiality. Presidential authority over declassification (under Executive Order 13526) applies primarily to executive-branch classified information, but it does not override court-imposed seals or grand jury secrecy rules without judicial approval. Below, Journalist FOIA Appeals: Radar Online's suit for FBI files advancing; could unseal non-grand jury docs if successful. Estate Administration: Florida probate case open for asset distribution to victims; emails released November 12, 2025, but financial ties sealed.
If Trump signs the bill (expected soon, per his pledge), DOJ must prioritize unsealing petitions, but open cases mean a "phased" rollout—perhaps starting with unclassified flight logs and contacts, while sealed portions wait for court rulings. Victims' groups like those represented in the Giuffre case emphasize that transparency must not retraumatize survivors. For the latest, monitor DOJ announcements post-enactment.