A federal judge in New York who presided over the sex trafficking case against Jeffrey Epstein has rejected the government's request to unseal grand jury transcripts. Wednesday's ruling by Judge Richard Berman came after the judge presiding over the case against Epstein's ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell also turned down the government's request. Barring reversal on appeal, Berman's decision forecloses the possibility of grand jury testimony being released given that other judges who received the same Justice Department request reached the same conclusions. The Justice Department declines to comment. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her conviction for helping Epstein sexually abuse girls and young women. Epstein died in jail awaiting trial.

A federal judge says a man charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump last year in South Florida can represent himself during his trial. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on Thursday signed off on Ryan Routh's request to represent himself during his trial. But she said court-appointed attorneys need to remain as standby counsel. The federal public defenders had asked to be taken off the case, saying Routh had refused repeated attempts to meet with them. Routh is scheduled to stand trial in September, a year after prosecutors say a U.S. Secret Service agent thwarted his attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf.