Judge Orders DOJ to Unseal Epstein Files by July 2 as Lawsuit Challenges Redactions
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 26
Judge Orders DOJ to Unseal Epstein Files by July 2 as Lawsuit Challenges Redactions
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 26
Summary
July 2 is the deadline Judge Emmet Sullivan gave the Justice Department to release less-redacted Epstein records or justify each withheld passage, while also publishing a full redaction log.
The order covers sender and recipient details in emails, names of alleged co-conspirators in a draft indictment, and underlying FBI interview notes tied to a woman’s uncorroborated assault allegation against Donald Trump, which he denies.
Sullivan said journalist Katie Phang was harmed by the lack of transparency and found the Trump administration likely violated the Epstein Files Transparency Act by withholding material.
The ruling adds pressure on a DOJ already criticized for missed deadlines and heavy redactions after releasing thousands of Epstein-related pages, even as it says millions more pages fall outside the law; the department’s inspector general opened an audit in April.