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Katie Phang ties Jeffrey Epstein files to Todd Blanche confirmation fight

journalismJun 27, 2026463,102

Katie Phang sued the Department of Justice under the Epstein Files Transparency Act and won a preliminary injunction that pressed DOJ to produce more unredacted Epstein records tied to Trump. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered DOJ, and by extension nominee Todd Blanche as current DOJ leadership, to produce specific documents including FBI interview notes from four interviews of a woman who alleges she was sexually abused by Donald Trump when she was 13, with a judge-set deadline around July 2. Court filings and coverage say Blanche either conceded violations of the Epstein Transparency Act or failed to rebut those claims, and a judge gave him a week to explain or produce the records ahead of his July confirmation hearing. Commentators and some reports also tie Blanche to prior departmental decisions in Epstein-related matters, including moving Ghislaine Maxwell to minimum security, which critics cite in the confirmation context. The order has made the Epstein files a central issue for Blanche's nomination, creating a concrete hurdle for his July confirmation and forcing DOJ to choose between release or a legal appeal and public explanation.

emptywheel
@emptywheel.bsky.social

Katie Phang Just Made Jeffrey Epstein Central to Todd Blanche's Bid for Confirmation emptywheel.net/2026/06/27/k...

7304h ago
Norm Eisen
@normeisen.bsky.social

Todd Blanche moved Ghislaine Maxwell to minimum security—the only sex offender to get that exemption. Now, a judge gave him a week to produce the Epstein files. His July confirmation hearing will be fireworks. Full story on @contrariannews.org👇 -TN

6658h ago
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