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.

Donald Trump's aides were expected on Friday to ask a court to release grand jury testimony about Jeffrey Epstein, as the president fought back against concerns over his administration's handling of the deceased convicted sex offender's case.

A judge has rejected a Trump administration request to unseal transcripts from grand jury investigations of Jeffrey Epstein years ago in Florida