Grand jury transcripts are rarely released by courts, unless they need to be disclosed in connection with a judicial proceeding. The papers filed Tuesday cite a 1997 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that said judges have wide discretion and public interest alone can justify releasing grand jury information.

Senate Democrats on Wednesday said they are attempting to force the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files through a little-known, decades-old law.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is looking to capitalize on the Jeffrey Epstein feud roiling Republicans by trying to invoke a nearly century-old law to require the release of files detailing those once connected to the late child sex offender.