Skip to content

Todd Blanche asks judge to spare $1,000‑a‑day fine in Epstein files case

journalismJul 21, 20267910,921

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche asked a federal judge Monday to spare him a $1,000‑per‑day contempt fine, calling the contempt push against him absurd. Blanche is the defendant in independent journalist Katie Phang’s lawsuit under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan found in June that Blanche missed the law’s release deadline, made improper redactions, and withheld required documents. Sullivan ordered Blanche to produce handwritten FBI interview notes from agents who spoke with a woman who said President Donald Trump sexually assaulted her as a minor, emails to Jeffrey Epstein with sender names unredacted, and documents naming potential co‑conspirators. Phang proposed a $1,000‑a‑day sanction until compliance; Blanche called her filings hyperbolic and sensational and asked the court for no contempt or sanctions, immediate appeal rights, and a stay to pursue that appeal. Brendan Ballou, founder of the Public Integrity Project representing Phang, said the government never defended its conduct in court. National Public Radio reported the Justice Department withheld and removed Epstein files tied to sexual abuse allegations against Trump, including more than 50 pages of FBI interview notes. Sullivan has not yet ruled on contempt, and the Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled an executive business meeting for July 23 where a vote on Blanche’s confirmation as permanent attorney general is expected.

1 source