Federal Judge Threatens DOJ With Contempt As Attorney General Todd Blanche Faces Accusations of Burying Key Epstein Records
‘Christmas is forthcoming.’
A federal judge just put the Department of Justice (DOJ) on notice, warning he’s ready to hold officials in contempt if they don’t start handing over key Jeffrey Epstein records. According to Newsweek, the warning came during a tense court hearing on August 13, 2026, where U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan made it clear he’s running out of patience with Attorney General Todd Blanche’s repeated delays in complying with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
The dispute centers on whether the DOJ has fully released all records tied to Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in federal custody in 2019. Journalist Katie Phang sued Blanche in April, accusing the department of dragging its feet on several transparency requirements.
After Thursday’s hearing, her legal team said the government’s own statements in court proved Blanche still hasn’t met basic obligations under the law. That includes failing to produce a required redaction log, foreign-language documents, and notes related to President Donald Trump.
Brendan Ballou, Phang’s attorney, didn’t mince words
“The Justice Department itself made clear that the Attorney General has failed to follow the law,” he said. “He has failed to produce its redaction log. He has failed to begin producing foreign language documents,” Ballou said, adding, “He has failed to produce notes concerning Donald Trump.” Ballou called the department’s approach one of “endless delay” and said Phang’s team plans to file a proposed order soon to address the noncompliance.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law in 2025, was supposed to ensure broad public release of records tied to Epstein and his associates. But Phang’s lawsuit argues the DOJ has ignored several of its requirements.
One of the biggest sticking points is the redaction log, which Congress mandated to explain why certain records were withheld or blacked out. The law requires those justifications to be published in the Federal Register and submitted to Congress, but Phang’s team says that still hasn’t happened.
The lawsuit also alleges the department hasn’t released all foreign-language materials or records related to Trump that fall under the law’s scope. Some FBI interview notes referenced in other documents were shared with attorneys for Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell but never made public.
The complaint points to emails and draft investigative files where names were redacted, even though Congress only allowed narrow exemptions, like protecting victims’ identities. Phang’s team argues some redactions instead hide the identities of potential co-conspirators, which isn’t permitted under the law.
The DOJ has pushed back
It said many redactions were necessary to protect victims and sensitive information. Officials have also claimed some unreleased records are duplicative or unrelated to Epstein. But Sullivan has already ordered the government to either release more documents or provide better explanations for keeping them hidden. Thursday’s hearing focused on whether the department had complied with those directives. The answer, according to Phang’s team, was a clear no.
In a video posted after the hearing, Phang said Sullivan repeatedly pressed Justice Department attorneys for a timeline on producing the redaction log. Congress intended for that requirement to be completed months ago, but government lawyers couldn’t give a date. Sullivan also questioned them about the status of foreign-language documents and directed Phang’s team to submit proposed orders addressing disputed FBI interview notes and the missing redaction log.
Sullivan didn’t hold back during the hearing, making it clear he’s willing to take drastic action if the department doesn’t shape up. According to NBC News, Phang said the judge referenced a past case where he held Justice Department attorneys in contempt for withholding evidence.
That case involved the prosecution of Sen. Ted Stevens, whose conviction was later overturned after the department admitted to misconduct. Sullivan stressed that his focus is on compliance, not punishment, but he’s not afraid to use the tools at his disposal.
The judge’s frustration was obvious
At one point, when a Justice Department attorney said he couldn’t commit to a timeline for producing the redaction log, Sullivan quipped, “Christmas is forthcoming.” He called his orders “straightforward” and said he was willing to work with the government – but only if they actually followed through. “You want me to issue another order and say, ‘I really mean it this time’?” he asked.
Blanche, who was confirmed as Attorney General earlier this year, addressed DOJ employees shortly before the hearing. He struck a defiant tone, saying the department would “respect the role of the judiciary” but wouldn’t be “intimidated.”
A department spokesperson later said the agency remains committed to protecting victims’ privacy and noted that many redacted emails were sent by women who identify as victims. The spokesperson argued that unmasking those names would violate a court order from the Southern District of New York.
Phang’s lawsuit paints a different picture, accusing the department of improperly withholding records and even removing some that should have been public. The complaint describes the alleged violations as “brazen, shocking, and ongoing,” a far cry from the department’s claims of good-faith compliance. With Sullivan now threatening contempt, the pressure is on Blanche to either start producing the missing records or explain why he can’t.
(Featured images: BruceSchaff and Ralph Alswang, White House photographer)
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
Follow The Mary Sue:
