DOJ seeks to block release of acting AG Blanche's Epstein communications

The Justice Department is attempting to protect acting Attorney General Todd Blanche from a lawsuit that seeks the release of his correspondence related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, ahead of Blanche's Senate confirmation hearing.

The Lawsuit

The lawsuit, filed in June by the government watchdog American Oversight, requests:

• "All email communications sent or received by Todd Blanche and containing both a key term from Column A and a key term from Column B"
• "All text messages and messages on messaging platforms ... sent or received by Todd Blanche and containing the term 'Epstein'"

Column A contains: "Epstein" and "Maxwell"

Column B contains: "Trump," "DJT," "POTUS," "DOE174," "Tallahassee," and nine other terms.

Urgency Cited by American Oversight

The lawsuit argues that Blanche's upcoming Senate confirmation hearings create "an urgency to inform the public about Mr. Blanche's work in his official capacity surrounding the government's treatment of the Smith Report." It further states that "Mr. Blanche's work history regarding the Epstein Files raises significant questions about the government's integrity that affect public confidence."

American Oversight requested the records by July 14. The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled Blanche's confirmation hearing for July 15 and 16.

DOJ's Opposition

The Justice Department filed a 38-page memorandum on Monday opposing these requests. The DOJ alleges that American Oversight's FOIA request would disrupt "the processing of other requests awaiting agency attention" and that granting it would "wreak havoc on agencies and the court."

The DOJ argued:

"The FOIA was intended to be available to all members of the public, not just those who are professional FOIA requesters or who have the resources to file a complaint in district court and move for preliminary injunctive relief. It is unfair … for AO to jump ahead of other requesters who filed their FOIA requests earlier, and who are waiting patiently in line for their requests to be processed."

"Granting relief would create perverse incentives and send the message that requesters whose preferred deadlines align with high-profile governmental proceedings can circumvent statutory procedures to leapfrog other requesters."

Broader Context

This response comes as over 1,200 former DOJ employees signed a letter on Tuesday urging Congress to reject Blanche's nomination.

The Department of Justice has yet to release or unredact all of the Epstein files. Blanche has faced ongoing controversy over his handling of the files, given his meeting with Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and his past work as President Trump's personal lawyer. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi has stated that Blanche is wholly responsible for any missteps with the files, even under her tenure.

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