The Justice Department has urged a federal judge to reject a request from NBC News to seal the names of two individuals who received substantial payments from convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein in 2018. These individuals received $100,000 and $250,000, respectively, as Epstein sought to influence investigations following critical reporting by the Miami Herald on a controversial plea deal from 2008.
Federal prosecutors cited privacy concerns expressed by the individuals as a reason for sealing the names. However, they argued that the payments suggested attempts to tamper with potential witnesses, especially as they were made shortly after the Miami Herald’s articles on Epstein began to surface.
Judge Richard Berman is expected to rule on NBC News’s request, and a response from the Justice Department indicated that the names should remain confidential. The timeline for the ruling remains unclear.
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