A federal judge has ordered the Department of Justice to release previously withheld Jeffrey Epstein documents or publicly explain its refusal by July 2, creating potential pressure to disclose material the government has kept sealed.
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan in Washington issued the directive Thursday as part of a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit brought by media legal analyst Katie Phang. The case centers on whether the DOJ has properly complied with last year's Epstein Act, which requires disclosure of records related to the deceased financier and his associates.
The Justice Department has released 3.5 million pages under the law, but Phang contends the agency still improperly concealed or redacted substantial material. Her lawsuit, filed against acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, alleges multiple violations of the statute's disclosure requirements.
According to Sullivan's opinion, Phang's complaint highlights several categories of withheld information. The allegations include redacted names of senders and recipients across at least eight email exchanges involving Epstein and references to a "torture video" and alleged sexual activity with young women, including minors. The suit also claims the DOJ redacted names of co-defendants from a draft indictment and individuals identified as "co-conspirators."
Phang further alleges that the department withheld 36 materials mentioning President Trump. The complaint specifically references notes from FBI interviews with a victim who claims Epstein introduced her to Trump in the 1980s when she was about 13 years old, and that Trump subsequently assaulted her. Trump has denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein allegations and has not been charged in connection with them.
The DOJ has argued in recent filings that Phang lacks standing to sue because she should have pursued a Freedom of Information Act request instead. However, her legal team countered that prior FOIA requests related to the Epstein files were denied.
Sullivan's order forces a choice: the government can comply with the injunction and release the disputed materials, or submit detailed justifications for continued secrecy. The July 2 deadline creates a concrete decision point in a case that could reshape what the public learns about Epstein's network and government handling of related investigations.
Author James Rodriguez: "This ruling cuts through the usual bureaucratic delays and demands the DOJ either put up or explain itself on the record."
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