A Clinton-appointed federal judge has ordered the Justice Department to release less-redacted Jeffrey Epstein records or explain by July 2 why the remaining information should stay hidden.

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan issued the order after granting a preliminary injunction sought by independent journalist Katie Phang, who sued Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in April.

Phang accused the Justice Department of failing to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law requiring the government to release investigative records tied to Epstein while allowing limited redactions to protect victims and legally protected information.

The order comes as pressure continues building over the government’s handling of Epstein-related records, including why some names, communications, and references to alleged co-conspirators remain concealed.

DOJ Ordered to Justify Epstein Redactions

According to the Justice Department, more than half of the six million Epstein-related files have already been made public.

The department said the remaining files have been withheld because of legal privilege protections or because they are duplicates.

However, critics have argued that the redactions are too broad and that the government has hidden information that the law was designed to expose.

In a 48-page memorandum, Sullivan ordered the Justice Department to either release less-redacted versions of several Epstein records or justify the redactions it made.

The documents covered by the order include eight emails with redacted senders or recipients, a 2007 draft federal indictment that was never filed, and a 2019 email referencing alleged co-conspirators whose identities were obscured.

The 2007 draft indictment includes redactions over the names of potential co-conspirators.

Another record includes an email in which Epstein wrote that he “loved” a torture video he watched.

The recipient’s identity was redacted, though Blanche suggested during litigation that the recipient was wealthy Middle Eastern businessman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.

All Remaining Files Ordered Unsealed

The Justice Department must also produce a complete log of every redaction made in records released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

The department had argued that Phang’s lawsuit should be dismissed because she could have sought the documents through the Freedom of Information Act.

Sullivan rejected that argument, finding that FOIA did not give Phang an “adequate remedy.”

Phang’s lawyers argued that the department’s past denial of related FOIA requests showed that the ordinary public records process was not enough to obtain the Epstein documents.

“I have standing to be able to get Todd Blanche to comply with Judge Sullivan’s order, which is now telling him that on or before July 2, he either has to put up or shut up,” Phang said during an appearance on the MeidasTouch network.

“He either has to bring forth unredacted files or show cause as to why he should not or cannot do so.”

Sullivan Again Lands in Trump-Related Fight

Sullivan’s ruling noted that the Justice Department had previously acknowledged the Epstein Files Transparency Act required broader disclosure than would normally occur through FOIA.

The judge said the law also limits certain exemptions that are typically available under federal public records rules.

Sullivan has been involved in multiple high-profile cases touching Trump and his allies.

He oversaw former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn’s criminal case and challenged the Trump Justice Department’s effort to drop the charges after Flynn pleaded guilty.

Sullivan also presided over the January 6 Capitol protest cases.

The ruling now puts the Justice Department under a deadline to either release more complete Epstein records or defend the redactions in court.

The fight keeps attention on one of the central unanswered questions surrounding Epstein’s network: why so much information connected to alleged co-conspirators and powerful figures has remained hidden years after Epstein’s death.

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