Judge Questions DOJ on Epstein Files Redactions, Warns of Contempt

A federal judge on Thursday sharply questioned the Department of Justice over its continued withholding of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, warning that failure to comply with a transparency law could lead to contempt proceedings. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan presided over a hearing in Washington, D.C., pressing government lawyers to justify redactions and the absence of certain records from the public release of files mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

The hearing stems from a lawsuit filed by independent journalist Katie Phang, who alleged the DOJ improperly redacted and withheld materials from the Epstein files. In June, Judge Sullivan ruled that the department had conceded it was in violation of the transparency act and ordered it to either release the disputed materials or provide a legal justification for withholding them. The DOJ has argued that all its redactions were lawful and has sought a two-month delay in the case.

During Thursday's proceedings, Sullivan expressed frustration with the department's explanations. He specifically challenged the withholding of handwritten FBI interview notes from a woman who made unsubstantiated allegations...