Journalist Katie Phang Files Suit Against Justice Department Over Epstein Files Release

Lawsuit alleges violation of law from “inappropriate”, “unexplained” and “incomplete" redactions

A former Justice Department prosecutor has filed a federal civil lawsuit, on behalf of journalist Katie Phang, against the Trump Administration, alleging the Administration is violating federal law by withhold and redacting documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files.

In the 15-page lawsuit, attorney Brendan Ballou argued the Justice Department has not followed the requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a 2025 law which required the release of the files. The suit argued the Justice Department is unlawfully withholding records from Phang and other journalists, including through a series of redactions of files.

Here is the lawsuit:

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.291779/gov.uscourts.dcd.291779.1.0.pdf

Phang is a fellow member of the Meidas Touch Network.

Ballou is CEO of the Public Integrity Project, a law firm which Ballou has touted is “fighting to raise the cost of corruption in America.”

The lawsuit argued, “The Department of Justice has failed to produce the required documents within the time required. It has improperly redacted documents and failed to adequately explain those redactions. And it has either retracted, or failed to produce entirely, documents that should have been produced. All of this facially violates the law.”

The suit described the Justice Department’s redactions of the files as “inappropriate”, “unexplained” and “incomplete.” The lawsuit also argued, “The Department failed to make many necessary redactions, with devastating consequences. Among other things, the Department released dozens of photos of nude young women or girls.”

The complaint also said, “Elsewhere, at least 43 victims’ names were revealed, including more than two dozen victims who had been abused as minors. Some victims’ names appeared over 100 times.”

In Phang’s lawsuit, Ballou also argued, “In its productions, the Department redacted thousands of documents, some in their entirety. The government’s first production, for instance, included a 119-page grand jury transcript, the contents of which were completely redacted, as were over 400 pages of other documents in that initial production.”

The suit, which is filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, also specified Trump. The complaint argued, “The Department improperly failed to produce documents referring to Donald Trump, retracted previously produced materials that showed or referred to Trump, and improperly redacted documents that referred to him. The Department failed to produce documents relating to Trump that other sources confirm exist.”

In a statement, Phang said, “As a journalist, it’s my job to find the truth and hold powerful people accountable when they break the law. Survivors and the wider American public deserve answers.”

Ballou told Meidas Touch Network, “This is a case about ending the idea that some people are beyond the reach of the law.”

The Justice Department has defended its process of releasing the Epstein Files. In a memo earlier this year, the agency said, “The Department’s document identification and review protocols consisted of multiple levels of review and quality control procedures designed to ensure compliance with the Act.”