A Florida federal judge on Wednesday declined to release additional grand jury documents from the criminal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, marking the first roadblock in the Justice Department’s efforts to quell the public backlash over the handling of the case.

Rep. Robert Garcia demands DOJ release Epstein files, stressing the need for transparency after a committee vote for a subpoena.

Ghislaine Maxwell met for hours with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on Thursday, answering all questions without invoking privilege, according to CNBC. While Maxwell's attorney declined to discuss details,

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is launching digital ads targeting a dozen Republican-held House districts, calling for the release of files related to financier and convicted sex offender

Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, and Rep. Julie Fedorchak all said the public deserves transparency about the Jeffrey Epstein case.

The Missouri senator's comments come amid a broader, tumultuous moment for Republicans and allies of Trump both in Missouri and nationally.

So even if Democrats wanted to release the Epstein Files in their entirety during Biden’s presidency, it’s not clear that a court would have granted their request. Trump is now encountering the same issue — meaning that the firestorm around him might not die down anytime soon.

Over the past weeks, Capitol Hill has been abuzz with the anticipated release of the Epstein files, with both Republicans and Democrats calling for transparency. Despite the potential implications for former President Trump,

Judge Robin L. Rosenberg said she could not legally grant the Justice Department’s request to release the testimony of witnesses who appeared before the grand jury.

“Ms. Maxwell answered every single question. She never stopped, she never invoked a privilege, she never declined to answer. She answered all the questions truthfully, honestly and to the best of her ability,” attorney David Oscar Markus told reporters outside the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, where Maxwell met with Blanche.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell again, as the Trump administration tries to quell weeks of backlash over its handling of information on Epstein’s case.