Judge Orders DOJ to Unredact Jeffrey Epstein Files

U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan ordered the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to either release unredacted versions of several Jeffrey Epstein files or provide detailed legal justifications for the redactions by July 2. The ruling stems from an April lawsuit filed by journalist and attorney Katie Phang, who alleged the DOJ violated the Epstein Files Transparency Act by improperly redacting documents and withholding over 2 million files.

The contested records include eight emails—one referencing a torture video—a 2007 draft federal indictment identifying potential co-conspirators, and FBI interview notes containing allegations that Donald Trump assaulted a woman in the 1980s after being introduced by Epstein. Judge Sullivan also ordered the DOJ to produce a comprehensive log of all redactions, a requirement overdue since December 19, 2025.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche argued that Phang should have utilized the Freedom of Information Act and claimed that the request did not serve the public interest. Judge Sullivan dismissed these arguments as without merit, noting that the Attorney General had already conceded to violating the Act. While the DOJ described the decision as perverse and cited privacy concerns as grounds for a planned appeal, the court denied the government's request for a stay.