A federal judge warned Justice Department attorneys Thursday that he has held government lawyers in contempt before, signaling growing frustration over the agency’s failure to comply with court orders regarding the release of Jeffrey Epstein files.

Judge Confronts DOJ Over Noncompliance

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan, who has served 41 years on the bench, pressed Trump administration attorneys about their compliance with his orders during a tense courtroom hearing. Sullivan specifically questioned why the Justice Department had not published required justifications for numerous redactions in the released Epstein documents. Justice Department official Andrew Block told the judge he could not commit to a timeline, saying the information would be forthcoming but remained outside his control.

Sullivan called his previous orders straightforward and questioned whether he needed to issue another directive emphasizing his seriousness. The judge reminded attorneys of his willingness to enforce legitimate court orders through all available means, including contempt citations. He specifically referenced holding government attorneys in contempt during the Ted Stevens prosecution, when the Justice Department withheld exculpatory evidence from the Alaska senator whose conviction was later reversed in 2009.

Transparency Lawsuit Sparks Confrontation

The case stems from journalist Katie Phang’s lawsuit against Attorney General Todd Blanche filed in April. Phang argues the Justice Department failed to fully comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, legislation Congress passed and the president signed last year. Her suit alleges the government made improper redactions and withheld documents referencing President Donald Trump. The Justice Department dismissed claims it violated Sullivan’s June order as absurd and argued Phang lacks legal standing to bring the case.

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi, who oversaw the initial release of millions of Epstein files before Trump dismissed her, acknowledged to lawmakers that redaction errors occurred during the document release. Attorney Brendan Ballou, representing Phang, said after Thursday’s hearing that Blanche has failed to follow the law by not producing required redaction logs, foreign language documents, or notes concerning Donald Trump.

Constitutional Stakes Mount

The confrontation highlights tensions between judicial authority and executive branch compliance under the Trump administration. Hours after the hearing, Blanche addressed Justice Department employees and pledged to respect the judiciary while refusing to be intimidated. Sullivan made clear he has no desire to pursue contempt sanctions again but wanted attorneys aware of his history enforcing court orders. The judge emphasized he does not blindside parties but expects full compliance with his directives regarding public transparency in the Epstein files.