A federal judge said Tuesday (December 9) that the Department of Justice can unseal the Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking case records. CBS News' Scott MacFarlane has more details.

Washington

A federal judge has ruled that the Department of Justice may unseal records from Ghislaine Maxwell's 2021 sex trafficking case, including grand jury transcripts and investigative materials related to both Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein. This decision could lead to the release of hundreds or thousands of previously unreleased documents, as part of a broader effort following a new law requiring the disclosure of Epstein case files.

The timeline for the release of these records remains unclear, especially as a December 19th deadline approaches for the DOJ to make the full Epstein files public. While the law requires these files to be accessible and understandable to the general public, it is uncertain how much will be released by the deadline, as ongoing investigations may allow the DOJ to withhold certain documents.

Judge says DOJ can unseal Ghislaine Maxwell trafficking case records

We continue to follow the breaking news a federal judge has ruled the Justice Department can unseal records from Ghislaine Maxwell's 2021 sex trafficking case. Last month the DOJ asked two judges to unseal grand jury transcripts and exhibits from Maxwell and Epstein cases along with investigative materials. It could amount to hundreds or thousands of previously unreleased documents. Let's bring in CBS News Justice Correspondent Scott McFarlane to talk about this. So Scott what do we know about this ruling? The federal judge in Manhattan it wasn't wholly surprising but nevertheless it does allow the Department of Justice to do something it typically can't do to unseal what a grand jury looked at when making a charging decision. This is the grand jury that looked into Ghislaine Maxwell Jeffrey Epstein's co-conspirator in the trafficking of young women and girls. The timetable is not clear but it's not happening in a vacuum is it flat it's happening days after the president signed a law passed by Congress pressed by members of both parties to release the full Epstein case files. These grand jury materials involving Ghislaine Maxwell are a subset of the full Epstein case files but one they needed the court's approval to release. What's also worth mentioning is a federal judge in Florida a few days ago approved the Department of Justice's request to release and unseal grand jury records in a 2005 investigation of Jeffrey Epstein. It happened well two decades ago. All right so what impact does this ruling have on the other evidence that's out there? It's a great question because there is this deadline of December 19th which is not that far away for the Department of Justice to release the full Jeffrey Epstein case files and the untold number of hundreds of thousands of pages that would be included there but it's unclear if they'll release everything because the Department of Justice was ordered by the president and quickly said yes when the president said he wants an investigation of Democrats who may have been tied to Jeffrey Epstein's crimes. Well that investigation newly launched could give the Department of Justice cover to hold some records back so it's an open question what we will actually will see when December 19th arrives and how quickly they'll turn around the records they are now blessed by the courts to unseal and release. And so when might these documents be released and who more importantly will have access to them? The law passed by Congress and signed by the president Vlad that only requires the release of the files but requires they be reviewable, searchable for the general public and for lack of a better phrase readable and digestible for the general public. Not clear they'll have that ready by December 19th either. It really could be a matter of how much not whether everything is released. All right Scott McFarland coming to us with that breaking news we really appreciate you jumping in front of a camera for us Scott thank you.

In Australia, millions of kids' social media profiles are going dark, as the country's new social media ban takes effect for anyone under 16. Jo Ling Kent reports.

Canberra

Australia's social media ban takes effect for kids under 16

President Trump, in recent months, has dismissed concerns about affordability, but this evening, in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, he is focusing on the crisis and touting his administration's efforts to lower the cost of living. Nancy Cordes has more.

Pennsylvania

Trump tries to flip the script on affordability

Dozens of protesters blocked a highway near Tel Aviv to demonstrate against moves by the Israeli government to force some ultra-Orthodox Jews into mandatory military service, something they are currently exempt from so they can study the Torah full time.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Bill over ultra-Orthodox military conscription sparks protests in Israel

The conviction, related to actions in 2003 and 2004, was the ICC’s first regarding crimes committed in Darfur.

The Hague

ICC sentences Sudan militia-leading ‘axeman’ Rahman to 20 years

President Trump has told Politico that Nicolas Maduro's "days are numbered" in Venezuela. Political strategists Kevin Sheridan and Hyma Moore join with analysis.

Trump says Maduro’s “days are numbered”

The FBI has released a new photo of former Olympian Ryan Wedding, whom the bureau’s director has described as a “modern day iteration of Pablo Escobar.” The ex-skier and snowboarder remains at large as agents continue their search.

FBI releases photo of Olympian and alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Pope Leo XIV and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Tuesday (December 9), meanwhile voicing his refusal to surrender territory to Moscow despite pressure from Washington for territorial concessions.

Rome

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskyy seeks backing from Pope Leo XIV, Italian PM Meloni

Prosecutors on Monday (December 8) released new evidence seized from Luigi Mangione on the day of his arrest. He is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson a year ago and has pleaded not guilty.

Manhattan

New evidence introduced in Luigi Mangione case

The EU antitrust enforcer has opened an investigation into the U.S. tech giant over its use of online content to power its AI services, a move that threatens to ratchet up transatlantic relations.

Brussels

EU Commission opens probe into Google over AI

The U.S. government said the approval, which comes in exchange for a 25% surcharge, would also be available to other chipmakers like Intel and AMD.

Trump gives Nvidia green light to sell H200 chips to China

Ukraine is set to present a revised peace plan to the United States on Tuesday following President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s talks in London with the leaders of France, Germany, and Britain.

London

Ukraine to share revised peace plan with U.S., Zelenskiy says

The International Criminal Court Tuesday handed down a sentence of 20 years to a Sudanese militia leader for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the country's civil war two decades ago.

ICC sentences Sudan militia chief for crimes against humanity

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday (December 8) unveiled a $12 billion aid package for American farmers, the latest government effort to shore up a key political constituency hurt by the financial fallout from his trade policies.

Trump unveils $12 billion aid package for farmers hit by trade war

Thailand and Cambodia are blaming one another for starting a deadly exchange of fire that killed at least five people and threatens to unravel a U.S.-backed ceasefire between the neighbouring southeast Asian countries.

Surin

Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire could be unravelling

Paramount Skydance made a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery for $108 billion US just days after Netflix announced it made a $72-billion US deal with the legacy studio. It’s a move that even has U.S. President Donald Trump weighing in.

Hollywood

Paramount launches hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros.

President Trump announced Monday he will allow Nvidia to sell its advanced H200 computer chips to "approved customers" in China, but Mr. Trump said the deal does not include Nvidia's more advanced Blackwell system or its soon-to-be-released Rubin system.

Trump says he's letting Nvidia sell some AI chips to China

Ukraine's European allies put on a show of support for President Volodymyr Zelensky Monday as they expressed scepticism about parts of the U.S. proposal to end the war with Russia. The discussions came after President Donald Trump accused Zelensky of not reading his administration's proposal on a deal to end Russia's invasion following almost four years of war.

Downing Street

European allies back Zelensky after Trump criticism

A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake shook northeastern Japan late on Monday (December 8), prompting orders for about 90,000 residents to evacuate and tsunami warnings that hours later were downgraded to advisories.

Aomori

7.5-magnitude earthquake strikes Japan's northeast

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday (December 8) that unity between Europe, Ukraine and the U.S. was important when negotiating an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. He made the remark during a visit to London.

Kyiv stresses European unity as allies 'skeptical' of U.S. peace plan

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies prepared to hold talks in London on Monday (December 8), after President Donald Trump accused him of not reading the U.S. proposal to end the war with Russia.

Zelenskyy to meet European allies after Trump criticism

Thailand has launched airstrikes on Cambodian military sites as renewed border violence threatens a U.S.-backed peace deal.

Bangkok

Renewed border violence threatens Thai-Cambodia peace

South African authorities have withdrawn a 90-day visa exemption for Palestinians, saying the recent arrival of a charter flight with 153 people onboard was part of a campaign of “forced migration.”

Johannesburg

Middle East Conflict

South Africa withdraws 90-days visa exemption for Palestinians

Chinese and Japanese ties came under further strain after a Chinese fighter aircraft trained fire-control radar on Japanese military jets for the first time.

Okinawa

Chinese fighter jet locks radar on Japan planes

A military coup declared in Benin on Sunday has failed, the country’s interior minister said, just hours after soldiers took over state television to announce the dissolution of government.

Porto-Novo

Benin coup attempt thwarted by soldiers loyal to Republic

Hong Kong's citizens were voting on Sunday in an election where the focus is on turnout, with residents grieving and traumatized after the city's worst fire in nearly 80 years and the authorities scrambling to avoid a broader public backlash.

Hong Kong Island

Hong Kong holds tightly guarded election amid anger over deadly fire

A U.S. envoy says territorial claims remain a sticking point in a proposed peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. The U.S.-led meetings have ended; meanwhile, Russia launched a massive strike on central Ukraine early Sunday.

Kyiv

U.S.-led peace talks wrap as Russia launches strike on Ukraine

Russia targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure overnight, meaning another winter of power outages for Ukrainians as Vladimir Putin tries to crush their resolve. Holly Williams reports.

Moscow

Russia targets Ukraine's energy infrastructure

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth doubled down on U.S. military strikes on alleged drug boats, saying President Trump can take decisive military action as he sees fit. Willie James Inman reports on the latest.

Pete Hegseth on boat strikes: "We will find you and we will sink you"

To crackdown on so-called “narcoterrorists”, the US has slowly but steadily been building up its military presence in the Caribbean. 15,000 troops are now stationed in the area, many in Puerto Rico.

Breakdown