Justice Department Seeks 60-Day Extension on Epstein Records Release

The Justice Department urged a federal judge late Thursday to reject demands for additional unredacted Jeffrey Epstein records while requesting a 60-day extension to consider a potential appeal. The 17-page filing was entered just hours before a court-imposed deadline requiring the department to either remove redactions from at least a dozen disputed records or explain why it could not.

The dispute is before U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan and stems from a lawsuit filed by attorney and independent journalist Katie Phang, who alleged the department violated transparency law by improperly withholding records related to the Epstein investigation.

Background on the Records Dispute Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, through department attorneys, argued the department has already devoted significant time and resources to reviewing more than 6 million documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward wrote that producing unredacted versions of many records at issue would contravene the settled application of the law. The department said the disputed records fall under statutory exemptions allowing officials to withhold information identifying victims or material that could compromise an ongoing federal investigation.

Among the contested records are at least eight email exchanges involving Epstein discussing a purported torture video and sexual activity with young women, including minors, as well as FBI interview materials involving a woman who alleged she was abused by President Donald Trump as a minor.

Woodward said the department concealed senders and recipients in several emails because they contained victims' names or private email addresses. The department also said it could not produce an unredacted draft indictment from the Southern District of Florida because the original photocopy already contained redactions and officials have not been able to locate an unredacted version.