CELEBRITY
Judge Sets September 24 Deadline in Epstein Files Case
A federal judge has ordered Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and the Justice Department to take several steps by September 24 in a lawsuit brought by attorney and journalist Katie Phang over the handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related records.
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered the DOJ to submit certain redacted and unredacted FBI interview notes for the court’s private review. He also directed the department to begin reviewing potentially responsive foreign-language records and notify the court that the process has begun by the same deadline.
The judge said that finding Blanche in civil contempt is premature at this stage, but explained that contempt can become an option if a clear court order is violated.
Phang’s lawsuit argues that the DOJ has not fully complied with disclosure requirements under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The Justice Department has defended certain redactions and its handling of the records, including citing privacy protections for victims.
The September 24 deadline could therefore become an important moment in the ongoing legal fight over how the government handles and releases Epstein-related records.