DOJ declines to turn over additional Epstein files, says redactions were appropriate [View all]

Source: abc news


A judge ordered DOJ to turn over more files or explain why they were withheld.

By Peter Charalambous and James Hill


July 2, 2026, 10:51 PM

The Department of Justice on Thursday declined to turn over additional information from the Epstein files as ordered by a judge, arguing the materials include sensitive victim information or were appropriately redacted as required by law.

According to Woodward, some emails in question -- which had their senders and recipients concealed -- were redacted to protect the names of victims. For one of the emails, Woodward claimed that some of the information was withheld because "many communications written by victims, without context, can appear disturbing on their face."

Woodward also claimed that.................

Hours ahead of the deadline to turn over the materials or explain why they were properly withheld, Associate U.S. Attorney General Stanley Woodward asked the judge to delay the deadline by 60 days or disregard it entirely by accepting the DOJ's reasons for withholding the materials.

"Although the Government strongly disagrees with the Court's ruling that the [Epstein Files Transparency Act] is enforceable by private parties through the Administrative Procedure Act, the Government welcomes this opportunity to resolve any confusion regarding the records at issue in this case," Woodward wrote.

Read more: https://abcnews.com/Politics/doj-declines-turn-additional-epstein-files-redactions/story?id=134430675&cid=social_twitter_abcn

DOJ declines to turn over additional Epstein files, says redactions were appropriate

abcnews.com/Politics/doj...

— (@oceancalm.bsky.social) 2026-07-03T06:46:17.521Z