Blanche Has Two Days to Prove His Epstein Redactions
Judge Sullivan ordered documentation for every blacked-out victim name. Blanche has filed none — and a $1,000-a-day contempt fine sits on the judge's desk.
Todd Blanche has until Thursday at 1 p.m. to walk into a federal courtroom and prove his Epstein redactions. Judge Emmet Sullivan signed the order August 6: the attorney general comes to Courtroom 24A prepared to explain, with documentation, why the Justice Department blacked out names it claims belong to victims. Sullivan had already ordered that proof in July. Blanche filed none — the department, Sullivan wrote, "did not provide such documentation."
Blanche owes Sullivan more than the redaction proof. He owes the handwritten FBI notes Sullivan ordered released in June — still unproduced. He owes the written justification the Epstein Files Transparency Act demands for every redaction, published in the Federal Register and sent to Congress — none exist. Sullivan ruled in June that Blanche had conceded he was violating the Act, the 2025 law Donald Trump signed. Blanche refused to comply anyway. Katie Phang's lawyers asked the judge to fine him $1,000 a day until he does; Blanche called the contempt case "absurd." Justice Department lawyers moved August 5 to stay the case entirely. Sullivan set a hearing instead.
