Justice Department defends decision not to release, unredact more Epstein files
The department said redactions protect victims and sensitive investigative material, and it asked for 60 more days to weigh an appeal.
- U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered the Justice Department to release unredacted Epstein files by Thursday, following a lawsuit from journalist Katie Phang alleging violations of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the agency's limited release, arguing disclosure would harm victims, though he recently conceded the department is in violation of the transparency law.
- Withheld records allegedly include names of Epstein's co-conspirators, email exchanges referencing a "torture video," and FBI interview notes containing allegations involving President Donald Trump, which he denies.
- Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward requested a two-month delay or permission to share documents "in camera" behind closed doors, claiming the government is "committed to transparency and compliance."
- Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act last year to mandate disclosure, yet the Justice Department faces criticism for previously failing to protect survivor identities while withholding documents related to powerful figures.
16 Articles
16 Articles
DOJ defends withholding more Epstein files after ordered release
The Justice Department urged a federal judge late Thursday to reject demands for additional unredacted Jeffrey Epstein records, arguing it has already complied with federal transparency requirements while simultaneously requesting a 60-day extension to consider a potential appeal if ordered to release more material. The 17-page filing was entered by the Trump administration’s DOJ just hours before a court-imposed deadline requiring the departmen…
DOJ Refuses to Release More Epstein Files
The Justice Department missed a court-ordered deadline Thursday to unredact Epstein documents and told a federal judge it had already done enough, asking for 60 more days to weigh whether to appeal any further disclosure requirements. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, through his attorneys, filed a response in the final hours of the deadline set by District Judge Emmet Sullivan. The filing argued that the department had “devoted incredible t…
Trump Administration Explains Decision Not To Release Unredacted Epstein Files
There’s been a bipartisan call for transparency regarding the evidence contained in the so-called Epstein Files currently in the possession of federal authorities. But the real-world complexities involved in preparing those sordid allegations for public consumption are greater than most Americans might assume. That’s the crux of the Trump administration’s argument declining to release unredacted evidence as requested in a lawsuit. The Hill provi…
The U.S. Department of Justice has withheld additional information previously requested by the court regarding billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who died in prison while on trial for allegedly running a prostitution ring targeting underage girls.
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