DOJ-OGR-00015119.jpg
Extracted Text (OCR)
Case 1:20-cr-00330-PAE Document 804 _ Filed 08/06/25 Page 24 of 27
The government has plainly not met its burden to justify an unsealing in this case. And
even if this Court determines that unsealing is warranted despite the high burden required to do
sO, respectfully request that any reference to them or to any information which may
be ae: them be redacted from any public filing. a
a innocent third parties at the time of any allegations
contained im the grand jury materials, and any references to them should remain sealed. While
we are not aware of the context in —“— are mentioned in the grand jury
materials (despite counsel having asked DOJ), the events detailed in the indictment of Ghislaine
Maxwell occurred between 1994 and 1997
Any reference to similarly should remain sealed, as they are also
innocent third parties and publication of their names in connection with these materials would
have the potential to contribute to additional needless and irreparable harm beyond what they
have already suffered as a result of this matter. Where, as here, the effect of unsealing grand jury
materials would have the potential to harm still-living third parties, the historical interest of the
public cannot outweigh the privacy interests in keeping the materials under seal. See Jn re
Application of Newsday, Inc., 895 F.2d 74, 79-80 (2d Cir. 1990) (emphasizing in the context of a
request to unseal a search warrant application that “privacy interests of innocent third parties as
well as those of defendants . . . should weigh heavily in a court’s balancing equation” (quoting Jn
re N.Y. Times Co., 828 F.2d 110, 116 (2d Cir. 1987))); Craig, 131 F.3d at 107 (directing courts
assessing requests to unseal grand jury materials to pay particular attention to the request’s
timing, given that the passage of time may weigh in favor of disclosure of grand jury materials
because it inevitably “brings about the death” of all parties involved).
L The grand jury materials in this case should remain sealed
There is a long history of maintaining the secrecy of grand jury proceedings for a reason.
The purposes of the secrecy include ensuring the freedom of grand juries in their deliberations
and “to protect [the] mnocent accused ....” Procter & Gamble, 356 U.S. at 681 n.6. Beyond
protecting innocent parties who are the subject of grand jury investigations, this secrecy also
serves to protect witnesses and other innocent nonparties who may be mentioned in grand jury
proceedings from any unwarranted association with the crimes alleged therein. Because of the
policy and due process rationale behind grand jury secrecy, the permissible bases upon which
grand jury materials may be shared are limited to certain exceptions in Rule 6(e)(3). The Second
Circuit has recognized limited additional “special circumstances” in which release of grand jury
records is appropriate, including historical interest by the public. Craig, 131 F.3d at 102. But in
? The Southern District of Florida recently declined to unseal the grand jury materials pertaining to the government’s
investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, which we understand concems the same or substantially similar facts. Due toa
Circuit split, the Southern District of Florida evaluated only the exceptions to grand jury secrecy enumerated in Rule
6(e). Order Den. Pet. to Unseal Grand Jury Trs., In re Grand Jury 5-02 & 07-103, 9:25-mce-80920 (S.D. Fla. July
23, 2025).
ys
DOJ-OGR-00015119
Extracted Information
Document Details
| Filename | DOJ-OGR-00015119.jpg |
| File Size | 1164.0 KB |
| OCR Confidence | 92.9% |
| Has Readable Text | Yes |
| Text Length | 3,459 characters |
| Indexed | 2026-02-03 18:52:59.800223 |