FACT CHECK #JBYYVZHG

EXHIBIT A

What you submitted

WHAT WE FOUND

The Department of Justice (DOJ), under the Trump administration, officially declined to comply with a federal court order to remove redactions from specific Jeffrey Epstein records 1 3 6. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan had ordered the DOJ to produce less-redacted versions of documents or show cause why it could not, but the DOJ instead urged the judge to reject demands for additional disclosure 3 4. The records in question include eight email exchanges regarding a 'torture video' and interview notes from a woman who claimed she was abused by Donald Trump as a minor 1 5. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche argued that the redactions were necessary to protect victim privacy and that some handwritten notes were duplicative of typewritten reports 2 5 11. However, Judge Sullivan ruled that the DOJ essentially conceded to violating the Epstein Files Transparency Act by failing to substantively respond to allegations of illegal withholding 10. While Trump publicly stated that House Republicans should vote to release the files, his DOJ has continued to resist the court-ordered unredaction and stated it would appeal the decision 8 12.

SOURCES

1. 1 · thehill.comACADEMIC
   Justice Department declines to release unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files

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2. 2 · theatlantic.comACADEMIC
   So This Is Why Trump Didn’t Want to Release the Epstein Files - The Atlantic

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3. 3 · thecoffmanchronicle.comACADEMIC
   Justice Department Says Epstein File Redactions Were Proper After Judge’s Order

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4. 4 · ground.newsACADEMIC
   Justice Department defends decision not to release, unredact more Epstein files

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5. 5 · abcnews.comWEB
   DOJ declines to turn over additional Epstein files, says redactions were appropriate - ABC News

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6. 6 · the-independent.comWEB
   DOJ refuses to hand over Epstein files after judge’s order | The Independent

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7. 7 · erfanmedia.coWEB
   BREAKING: Trump's DOJ REFUSING to Release Court-Ordered Epstein Files

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8. 8 · usatoday.comWEB
   DOJ defends withholding Epstein files in response to judge's order

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9. 9 · aol.comWEB
   DOJ refuses to hand over Epstein files after judge’s order - AOL

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10. 10 · politico.comWEB
    Todd Blanche ‘conceded’ violating law on Epstein files, judge finds - POLITICO

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11. 11 · independent.co.ukWEB
    Trump promised Epstein transparency now his DOJ is fighting it | The Independent

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12. 12 · washingtonexaminer.comWEB
    Judge orders DOJ to unredact Epstein files related to Trump and 'torture video'

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