Acting AG Blanche asks judge to overturn $1,000 daily fine over Epstein files

Acting Attorney General Blanche Pleads to Avoid $1,000 Daily Fine Over Epstein Files

Publication date: 2026-07-21

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is urging a federal judge to rescind a proposed $1,000-per-day fine, marking the latest development in an ongoing legal dispute over the release of Epstein-related documents.

Background of the Lawsuit

The fine stems from a lawsuit filed by journalist Katie Phang, who has accused the Department of Justice of failing to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Phang sued the DOJ in April, alleging a "brazen, shocking, and ongoing violation" of the law, which President Donald Trump reluctantly signed in November.

Despite the Justice Department's repeated assertions that its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and subsequent file releases have been conducted with "an unprecedented commitment to transparency," millions of files remain either missing or redacted.

Court Order and Non-Compliance

In June, U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan ordered Blanche to produce previously redacted materials from the Epstein files, including:

• FBI notes from interviews with a woman alleging that Trump sexually assaulted her in the 1980s when she was 13 years old
• Email exchanges with Epstein regarding a "torture video"
• Identities of Epstein's potential co-conspirators

Sullivan gave Blanche until July 2 to produce the materials. When the acting attorney general failed to comply, Phang suggested a daily $1,000 fine until he did so.

Blanche's Response

Blanche filed a brief on Monday attacking Phang's argument as "outlandish," "absurd," and "hyperbolic rhetoric seeking to impose punitive sanctions" on the Department of Justice. He characterized her lawsuit as "sensational and unsubstantiated," despite the fact that her argument is based on documented evidence.

Broader Context

Phang's lawsuit adds to Blanche's mounting challenges as he seeks a permanent promotion to attorney general. His confirmation process has faced:

• Days of tense confirmation hearings in the Senate
• An uncomfortable meeting with Epstein survivors
• Opposition from hundreds of his former colleagues

Pentagon Faces Budget Shortfall Amid Iran War

The Pentagon is confronting an impending budget deficit directly caused by President Trump's war on Iran, forcing cuts to training, maintenance, and military preparations, according to a report from The Washington Post.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not been transparent or timely about the ultimate costs of the war, leading to confusion and disarray within the department.

"We need to know what we're purchasing and why we're purchasing it," said Democratic Representative Betty McCollum, ranking member of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee. She noted that other Pentagon officials were "very concerned" about the lack of information they were receiving.

The House is set to vote this week on a $73 billion defense package—exceeding the $67 billion the administration requested to address the shortfall. The request has faced significant opposition, with most Democrats opposing any new funding for the Iran war.

This development comes as the U.S. is also dealing with a dwindling stockpile of munitions.