A federal judge said Tuesday the U.S. Justice Department can publicly release investigative materials from a sex trafficking case against Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime confidant of the late convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The rumor touched on long-running speculation about Epstein's powerful connections and alleged use of hidden cameras in his properties.

Jeffrey Epstein sex-crime survivors and Senate Democrats have requested an audit of all files related to the accused sex trafficker's case before their upcoming release. They want to know whether any records have been altered or concealed.