Judge Orders DOJ to Unmask Jeffrey Epstein Records

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday, granting a request by plaintiff Katie Phang to compel the release of withheld FBI files. During proceedings, Blanche admitted to being in violation of the transparency law, which carried a December 19, 2025, deadline for full disclosure of unclassified case materials and a comprehensive log of redaction justifications. Phang’s lawsuit specifically challenged the government's practice of obscuring names of co-defendants and alleged co-conspirators in draft indictments. The case also highlights claims that the DOJ withheld information directly involving President Donald Trump, including accounts from a victim who alleges Epstein introduced her to Trump in the 1980s for the purpose of assault. Judge Sullivan has set a July 2 deadline for the DOJ to either produce the requested information or provide specific, legally sufficient justifications for continued redactions. Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance described the ruling as a significant victory for victims and survivors, noting that the government had consistently refused to provide material clearly mandated by the statute. Representative Ro Khanna, a co-author of the transparency act, credited Phang’s legal efforts for forcing the government’s hand. Brendan Ballou, an attorney for the plaintiff, characterized the ruling as a setback for an administration he accused of attempting to shield powerful figures from public scrutiny.