Judge Sullivan Gives Todd Blanche Another Deadline in Epstein Files Lawsuit

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan warned acting Attorney General Todd Blanche that he could face civil contempt if the Justice Department failed to comply with the court’s orders in the lawsuit brought by journalist and attorney Katie Phang over the Epstein files. Sullivan gave Blanche until September 24 to satisfy several outstanding requirements, including providing support for disputed victim-name redactions, submitting handwritten FBI interview notes for private judicial review and beginning a review of foreign-language Epstein records that could fall under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Sullivan said a contempt finding would be premature at that point, but made clear that it remained on the table if the government continued to fall short. He also gave Blanche until September 21 to seek clarification if he believed any part of the renewed order was unclear.

The warning came after months of litigation over whether DOJ had fully complied with Sullivan’s earlier injunction requiring additional review and production of Epstein-related records. The department had argued that some redactions were necessary to protect victims, that handwritten FBI notes were substantially similar to reports already released and that reviewing foreign-language material was too burdensome. Sullivan rejected those explanations as insufficient, saying similarity to already released records did not automatically justify withholding responsive material and ordering DOJ to start reviewing the foreign-language files. He also refused to pause the case while Blanche appealed the June injunction, and separately ordered DOJ to answer Phang’s lawsuit by September 24, produce a certified administrative-record list by October 1 and provide the record by October 15.



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Judge Warns Todd Blanche He Could Face Civil Contempt Over Epstein Files | Law Commentary