Judge’s Epstein Files Concerns Put Donald Trump's DOJ Under a New Spotlight
Judge Emmet G. Sullivan said he may hold DOJ lawyers in civil contempt if they fail to provide FBI interview notes and other Epstein-related records.
- On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan warned the Justice Department he could hold attorneys in contempt over their handling of Jeffrey Epstein files, demanding compliance with court orders requiring justifications for redactions.
- Journalist Katie Phang's lawsuit against Attorney General Todd Blanche alleges the government failed to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, arguing it improperly redacted documents and withheld information referring to President Donald Trump.
- Recalling his past handling of the Sen. Ted Stevens case, Sullivan warned he is willing to "enforce legitimate judicial orders." He pressed DOJ official Andrew Block for FBI notes, rejecting claims they were "substantially similar" to existing reports.
- Attorney Brendan Ballou, representing Phang, denounced the department's "endless delay" and announced plans to file a proposed order regarding the Attorney General's noncompliance shortly.
- Tensions persist as the department claims information will be "forthcoming," prompting Sullivan to quip, "Christmas is forthcoming," as the court remains focused on obtaining full transparency on redactions.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Todd Blanche ‘failed to follow the law,’ attorney says as Justice Department is accused of noncompliance with Epstein Files Transparency Act
The Justice Department is facing renewed accusations that it has failed to comply with federal transparency requirements involving records connected to Jeffrey Epstein, the financier and convicted predator who died in federal custody in 2019. The allegations follow a hearing before U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan in a lawsuit brought by journalist Katie Phang. Brendan Ballou, an attorney representing Phang, told Newsweek after the hearing …
Alaska Senate Candidates Attempt to Link Each Other to Epstein
In Alaska’s tossup Senate race, Democrat Mary Peltola has put out a new ad misleadingly accusing Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan of casting “the deciding vote” to keep the Epstein files “hidden.” While Sullivan voted against considering an amendment to an otherwise unrelated bill that would have released the files earlier, he, like the rest of the Senate, supported a bill to make the records public. The Peltola ad also seeks to tie Sullivan to the…
Judge Threatens Contempt Over Withheld Epstein Files, Warns It Could Haunt DOJ Lawyers' Careers
A federal judge has warned Justice Department lawyers that failing to comply with orders to release Jeffrey Epstein-related records could lead to contempt proceedings that may follow them for the rest of their careers. Judge Emmet Sullivan of the DC District Court pressed the Justice Department on Thursday over why some records connected to Epstein investigations still have not been released. The case was filed by journalist Katie Phang, who is …
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