DOJ defends withholding more Epstein files, seeks 60-day extension from judge

Published July 3, 2026 5:13pm ET



The Justice Department urged a federal judge late Thursday to reject demands for additional unredacted Jeffrey Epstein records, arguing it has already complied with federal transparency requirements while simultaneously requesting a 60-day extension to consider a potential appeal if ordered to release more material.

The 17-page filing was entered by the Trump administration’s DOJ just hours before a court-imposed deadline requiring the department to either remove redactions from at least a dozen disputed records or explain why it could not.

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