Justice Department defends decision not to release, unredact more Epstein files

The Department of Justice declined Thursday to release additional unredacted records from its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, telling a federal judge that it has already adequately complied with the law. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, through his attorneys, told District Judge Emmet Sullivan that his department has 'devoted incredible time and resources' to reviewing more than 6 million documents in connection with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. 'As will become apparent, it would contravene the settled application of the EFTA for the Department to produce unredacted versions of many of the records at issue, and nothing requires that result,' Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward wrote. The filing pointed to exemptions in the law that allowed the DOJ to withhold or redact records that contained victims’ identities and information that could jeopardize a federal investigation. 'One of the complicating aspects of administering the EFTA is that many communications written by victims, without context, can appear disturbing on their face,' Woodward wrote. 'Consistent with that statutory authority, the Department has sought to prevent victim PII from becoming public even in instances where the victims eventually became complicit or engaged in reprehensible activity or communications.' The Justice Department argued that it should not be forced to release any further records to the public but offered to share additional details with the judge in closed-door proceedings. It also asked for a 60-day extension so that the solicitor general can consider a possible appeal.