NEW YORK — On Monday, a judge ruled against releasing transcripts from the confidential grand jury proceedings that led to the indictment of Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s former partner, on sex trafficking charges.

Judge Paul A. Engelmayer explained in a written statement that the government had indicated that making these materials public “casually or promiscuously” could threaten the secrecy central to grand jury processes and undermine the confidence of those summoned to testify in future grand juries.

“Arguing for their release by suggesting that they merely replicate evidence from Maxwell’s trial misses the mark. This logic could be applied to nearly any grand jury testimony, whether from summary witnesses or others, as it supports charges that advance to trial,” he stated.

Federal prosecutors had requested the documents be made public to quell the swirl of doubts about the information the government holds on Epstein, a well-connected financier who died in jail awaiting sex trafficking charges. Maxwell, previously his socialite companion, was eventually found guilty of aiding his exploitation of underage girls.

It remains uncertain what the transcripts might have disclosed, as the Justice Department has noted they did not include testimony from any non-law enforcement witnesses.

Maxwell recently was interviewed by the Justice Department and was moved from a prison in Florida to a prison camp in Texas. Her attorney says she testified truthfully.

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