DOJ faces contempt threat over refusal to comply with Epstein file order
Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward has declined to fully obey a judge’s directive to produce notes and declarations related to the Epstein files, putting the Justice Department at risk of contempt.
Judge Sullivan mandated that the Justice Department turn over handwritten notes and a personal-knowledge declaration linked to several EFTA identifiers in the Epstein case. In response, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward submitted a memorandum stating the department should not be compelled to provide the requested declaration or the FBI interview notes that underlie the FD-302 reports, and he asked that any such order be paused.
The contention arises from a suit by journalist Katie Phang, which secured a prior victory compelling the department to release portions of the Epstein files. The Trump administration, whose officials have longstanding ties to Jeffrey Epstein, has been accused of stalling the release of the documents despite campaign promises. Woodward’s refusal now risks a contempt of court finding, highlighting ongoing tensions between the executive branch and the judiciary over transparency in the high-profile investigation.
Why it matters
The Justice Department’s defiance could lead to a contempt ruling, underscoring the legal battle over access to Epstein-related evidence.
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