Y’know, we still get new things every day, and this is one of them. It seems that someone is unhappy with him. It’s for a damn good reason, mind you. We should be pleased about this. And it’s interesting in that Blanche was sued directly, instead of doing so for the entire organization. Will it go through? Unknown. But Blanche has been put on notice, and it’s about time. With gratitude to Raw Story:
On Monday, former MSNBC host Katie Phang filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia asking the court to compel acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to release the entire Jeffrey Epstein files.
According to Phang, a former prosecutor turned legal analyst at MSNBC (now MS NOW) the DOJ has illegally withheld files and has redacted documents that have been released, denying journalists the ability to delve more deeply into the disgraced felon’s contacts and financial ties.
The suit names Blanche as the defendant in his capacity at his new job, having replaced fired AG Pam Bondi.
Let’s have a “you go, grrl” for Ms. Phang!! (Gotta love slang!) No one was pushing for the release of the rest of the files anymore. We know only half were released. We know Blondi was refusing to release any more. We know the law which *required* the DoJ to release them. And since the DoJ has been dragging its feet, alternative ways to get them are coming into play.
As journalist Scott McFarlane wrote on Substack, “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.”
In the filing, Ballou explained to the court, “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.”
Got that right! We know the documents that have been released were excessively redacted, yet left open survivors’ information, while redacting, we could guess, the names of powerful men who would be embarrassed or more. We know that Blondi did a lot of foo while she was still AG. There’s a lot she’s trying to cover up. It’s most likely to be for Trump, at the very least. We need this.
The filing also drags Donald Trump into the mix, asserting, “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.”
The lawsuit also asks the court to appoint a special master to oversee compliance with the law.
Phang, now a podcaster, issued a statement explaining, “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.”
Yes, indeed, we do. We knew Blondi/the DoJ were dragging their feet on the remainder of the files. They could be nothing, which is unlikely, but *because* they’re dragging their feet on producing the rest, it makes us wonder even more about what they are hiding. It’s bringing more attention, not less, like they wanted. Who knows what will happen? But at least Blanche has been put on notice. It’s a start.
See you soon!!
Friends, I know everybody begs you for money. I promise you that of all of the outlets bugging you for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest working. We’re a bunch of old, disabled people, except one writer in his mid-50s. But the rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the ability to continue our quest to tell the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
