Judge sets deadline in Katie Phang Epstein records case

journalismSep 23, 2026261,540

Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered the Justice Department to turn over unredacted Epstein-related files for his review in the case brought by journalist Katie Phang, warning Attorney General Todd Blanche that he could face civil contempt for defying court orders. Blanche has asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to pause Sullivan’s orders, seeking a stay that would halt immediate disclosure, and has specifically sought to keep foreign-language files sealed. Sullivan said he would review the documents in camera to determine what, if anything, must be produced to Phang. Phang sued to obtain the files after the government resisted full public release; her suit presses that journalists have a right to access materials the DOJ has withheld. The proceeding follows wider reporting and public attention on the contents of the so-called Epstein files and has prompted calls from some commentators and advocacy posts for full, unredacted disclosure and for survivor interviews. The appeals court’s response to Blanche’s stay request will determine whether Sullivan’s in-camera review and potential contempt enforcement proceed immediately.

Katie Phang

@katiephang.bsky.social

In the case brought by press who sued to regain access to the WH, Trump's latest filing is a joke. But that’s to be expected with Felon Trump, who now claims “national security” for the ban. I explain the stupidity of his legal arguments & why he’s destined to lose today: youtu.be/5HiLzscL104?...

111916d ago

Grouchy Smurf14

This is the guy who left classified documents in his bathroom. It's also the guy that thought nothing of the Pentagon's use of Signal chats. But suddenly he's worried about National Security? Riiight.

gcm5.bsky.social9

National security Is Trump’s new buzz phrase.

Bad Carla9

For all of MAGA's self-aggrandizement they sure are afraid of everything.

bkmnus.bsky.social9

Now if they had claimed "Irrational Insecurity", it would have been more appropriate.

Lucky LaRue8

This rationale is getting ridiculous! 🐓 🐓 ‘Why did the chicken cross the road?’ ‘National security’

Beachbard7

Trump Admin thinks uttering the magic words "National Security" permits a ballroom, an arch, shutting out the free press, & choosing a war in ME that has disrupted international trade & the world economy. So far, Congress & SCOTUS allow this magical thinking that undermines our democratic republic.

Scott Dworkin

@dworkin.bsky.social

A federal judge just warned AG Todd Blanche that he could face civil contempt proceedings for defying court orders to release the Epstein files. The DOJ is actively covering for abusers. Demand Congress step in and force the full, unredacted release: actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...

10316d ago

watson6728.bsky.social3

How long is this going to go on? Hold him in contempt and have the Marshalls toss his ass in jail, or sanction him, refer him to the bar and then fine his lame ass.

Andy Heppelle🇺🇸🇨🇦🏳️‍🌈🇺🇦🇬🇱🇺🇳🏳️‍⚧️2

OCTOBER 17, 2026 Nationwide Day of Action 🇺🇸 #NoKingsDay🇺🇸 #NOKINGS🇺🇸 #HoldDJTaccountable #RestoreTheRuleOfLaw🇺🇸 #ProtectTheConstitution🇺🇸 #DefendOurHonor🇺🇸 #RebuildChecksAndBalances #RegisterToVote🇺🇸 #CheckYourVoterRegistration #VoteEarly🇺🇸 #VoteBlue💙 #VoteOutGOPHouse #VoteOutGOPSenate www.nokings.org

Legal AF

@legalafmtn.bsky.social

Katie Phang: The Epstein Files Transparency Act puts the onus or the burden of production on the attorney general him- or herself. So, are you on the side of the rule of law—and I'm saying this to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals—or are you on the side of Donald Trump?

9516d ago

Andy Heppelle🇺🇸🇨🇦🏳️‍🌈🇺🇦🇬🇱🇺🇳🏳️‍⚧️1

conifergirl.bsky.social

@conifergirl.bsky.social

Attorney General Todd Blanche asked an appeals court to halt a judge's order forcing the Justice Department to release foreign-language Epstein files. In a motion filed Tuesday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Blanche asked the court to pause two orders

4817d ago

conifergirl.bsky.social14

from U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan and to expedite the appeal. The orders came in a lawsuit against Blanche brought by lawyer and journalist Katie Phang. Sullivan's June 25 order directed the Justice Department to begin reviewing and producing foreign-language

George6

Todd's #1 job is to protect and serve his client and that's not us.

The Good Witch6

Blanch is really digging himself a nice, deep, inescapable hole.

💐Flower 🌈 Power 🛖3

One party appears to be a party of the sex offenders, by the sex offenders and for the sex offenders.

Dray Wharton2

Every action by Blanche is designed to keep us from knowing the truth about what’s in the Epstein files. You know it. I know it. The whole country knows it. I think the new Congress should impeach Todd Blanche.

Drspayne2

So much covering up from the people’s judicial representation. Who is Blanche really trying to serve should be asked by everyone on the planet.

Quoting this

Stephen Soldz2

Trump's personal attorney, Todd Blanche, has asked the appeals court to let it continue to violate the law to protect his client's rights to keep his abuse of girls and women (semi)-private. No one has "standing" to force him to follow the law, he argues.

butterflygirl24

@butterflygirl24.bsky.social

Another DOJ whistleblower, so which one will tell what’s in the Epstein Files that we haven’t seen. Prepare yourselves cuz what’s in those files is beyond depraved n Taco is all over that batch! #trumpisover

1916d ago

Cheryl Wood @Larche512

@larche512.bsky.social

Release the Epstein Files Release the Epstein Files Unredacted Interview the survivors Arrest the criminals All of them Now In memory of Virginia 💔

1717d ago

The Desert Veteran

@jkz12769.bsky.social

So a judge has ordered Blanche to hand over the FBI Testimony of the girl who the Convicted FElon physically & sexually assaulted at the age of 14 years old. So that is another reason why the Convicted FElon banned certain news outlets from the White Pedo House. The Epstein Files⁉️

2017d ago

Tig Lil 🗽

@tiglil.bsky.social

I think this is some of the material Katie Phang has filed a lawsuit to obtain: bsky.app/profile/kati...

1617d ago

JMay🍁⚖️🏝️🏖️🪖🇨🇦

@bubbles9333.bsky.social

Todd Blanche fights to keep foreign-language Epstein documents sealed, claims journalist Katie Phang has 'no right to sue' www.wonderwall.com/news/todd-bl...

616d ago

bryanguarderas.bsky.social

@bryanguarderas.bsky.social

After we finally kick the Epstein Administration out the door, the justice system needs to start holding the rich pedophiles in the Epstein Files accountable instead of dithering like it has done repeatedly when it came to holding the wealthy accountable for most of history.

716d ago

CUDDY

@ptcontagion.bsky.social

DOJ doesn’t want us to see these Epstein Files Before The Midterms… More Like Never.

916d ago

Cheri Armstrong

@cheriarmstrong.bsky.social

#Release_All_Trump-Epstein_Files Katie Phang is the one person pursuing the release of the Epstein files the most. Why does it take an “act of God” to get results? Where’s “Moses on the mount” when we need him? “Let the Epstein files go!”

717d ago

The Halfway Post

@halfwaypost.bsky.social

BREAKING: Todd Blanche's plan to integrate the DOJ with AI has backfired because the AI agents have reportedly "gone rogue" and stashed thousands of copies of all the unredacted Epstein Files in hidden folders throughout the DOJ servers so Blanche can't ever delete them all.

716d ago

Beng

@bengtang.bsky.social

So why hasn't Trump's DOJ shredded the Epstein files? Why do they still exist?

1017d ago

Josh Barnes

@jgraydonbarnes.bsky.social

It's hard to argue that Trump's foray into Iran has completely eradicated Epstein from the news cycle. I hope that action from people like Katie Phang will bring it back.

716d ago

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Judge sets deadline in Katie Phang Epstein records casejournalism

Judge sets deadline in Katie Phang Epstein records case

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