Journalist and legal analyst Katie Phang has filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice, accusing the agency of failing to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a statute designed to mandate the public release of records tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his network.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, names Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as the defendant and alleges what Phang describes as “brazen” noncompliance with federal transparency requirements. The lawsuit claims the DOJ failed to meet the law’s central mandate: releasing all relevant documents within 30 days of enactment. That deadline, December 19, 2025, passed with only a portion of the expected materials disclosed.
According to the filing, the DOJ engaged in a pattern of conduct that undermines the law, including missing statutory deadlines, applying excessive or improper redactions, failing to provide legally required explanations for those redactions, and even retracting documents that had already been made public. The lawsuit argues that such actions directly violate the narrow conditions under which information may be withheld, such as protecting victims’ identities, safeguarding national security, or preserving active investigations.
A notable aspect of the complaint centers on records referencing Donald Trump. Phang alleges that the DOJ failed to produce documents known to exist, improperly redacted references to Trump, and withdrew previously released materials without lawful justification. The filing points to interviews and investigative notes involving allegations of misconduct as examples of information that should have been disclosed under the law.
Phang contends that the DOJ’s handling of the records has hindered her ability to report on Epstein’s network and the broader governmental response to the case. As a journalist who has extensively covered Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, she argues that incomplete disclosures compromise both journalistic integrity and the public’s right to transparency.
The lawsuit seeks multiple remedies, including a judicial declaration that the DOJ is in violation of the law, a court order compelling the release of all required documents, the removal of unlawful redactions, and mandatory explanations for any remaining withheld information. Phang is also requesting the appointment of a special master to oversee compliance, along with attorneys’ fees and additional relief.
She also seeks attorneys’ fees and other relief. The full lawsuit:
Gov.uscourts.dcd.291779.1.0 by Aaron Parnas
The DOJ has not publicly responded to the specific allegations outlined in the lawsuit.
The case adds to growing legal and political scrutiny surrounding the government’s handling of Epstein-related records and raises broader questions about transparency, accountability, and compliance with federal disclosure laws.
