Todd Blanche & The Epstein Files: A Timeline
Todd Blanche represented Donald Trump as his personal criminal defense attorney starting in 2023 in three of Trump’s most consequential legal matters, including the Stormy Daniels “hush money” case, the classified documents case, and the election-obstruction case.[1] That unavoidable history created substantive and disturbing conflicts of interest for Todd Blanche when he became Deputy Attorney General – and now Acting Attorney General – of the United States.
Blanche’s sworn allegiance is supposed to be to the American public, the U.S. Constitution, and the United States of America, not the personal interests of Donald J. Trump. However, indisputably, those conflicts are unavoidable and irreconcilable given Donald Trump’s personal past, his well-documented ties to Jeffrey Epstein,[2] [3] and the fact that Todd Blanche was specifically hired by Donald Trump in cases brought against Trump by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which Todd Blanche now leads. As acknowledged by former Attorney General Pam Bondi, her then deputy Todd Blanche was the DOJ official in charge of the release of the Epstein files and oversaw the entire process.[4]
The timelines below highlight the arrest and death of Jeffrey Epstein, the conviction and sentencing of his sex trafficking accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell; Todd Blanche’s role as Donald Trump’s criminal defense attorney in private practice; and his role managing the Epstein file saga as a federal employee and now the highest–ranking official in the U.S. Department of Justice.
Todd Blanche is scheduled to appear before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on July 15, 2026, for his confirmation hearing as U.S. Attorney General.
Jeffrey Epstein & Ghislaine Maxwell: Brief Timeline
July 6, 2019: Jeffrey Epstein is arrested at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and charged with sex trafficking and conspiracy.[5]
August 10, 2019: Alleged sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is found dead, reportedly by suicide, at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.[6]
December 29, 2021: A federal jury in the Southern District of New York convicts Ghislaine Maxwell on five counts, including sex trafficking of a minor, for her role in Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual exploitation scheme.[7]
June 28, 2022: Judge Alison Nathan sentences Maxwell to 20 years (240 months) in prison with her release scheduled for July 17, 2037.[8]
July 25, 2022: The federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) transfers Maxwell from the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York where she had been held during pretrial and post-sentencing, to the Federal Corrections Institution (FCI) in Tallahassee, Florida, a federal prison.[9]
September 17, 2024: The Second Circuit Court of Appeals upholds Maxwell’s convictions and sentence.[10]
August 1, 2025: BOP transfers Maxwell to Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas after she meets with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump’s former personal criminal defense attorney, and claims Trump “was a gentleman” every time she saw him.[11]
Todd Blanche’s Involvement as Donald Trump’s Criminal Defense Attorney: Timeline
March 30, 2023: In a sealed indictment, a New York grand jury indicts Donald Trump on 34-counts of falsifying business records in the first degree related to the “Stormy Daniels” (Stephanie Clifford) “hush money” trial.[12] The indictment is unsealed on April 4, 2023.
April 2023: Todd Blanche leaves his job as a partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.[13] While at Cadwalader, Blanche focused on white collar criminal defense work and represented key people in Donald Trump’s inner circle, including Paul Manafort, Igor Furman, and Boris Epshteyn.[14] Blanche establishes his own law firm, Blanche Law, the same month he leaves Cadwalader.[15] The law firm is established essentially to represent Donald Trump. Blanche’s law firm is paid approximately $10.2 million between April 2023 and January 2025 to represent Donald Trump in his various criminal defense cases by the Save America PAC,[16] which was created and is controlled by Donald Trump.[17]
April 4, 2023: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg publicly announces the 34-count felony indictment charging Donald Trump with falsifying business records in the Stormy Daniels “hush money” case.[18]
April 23, 2024: At the trial, Judge Juan Merchan asserts: “Mr. Blanche, you’re losing all credibility,” during a hearing examining whether Trump had violated a gag order restricting his public speech about jurors and potential witnesses.[19]
June 8, 2023: Federal prosecutors charge Donald Trump in the classified-documents case in the Southern District of Florida, and Blanche becomes part of Trump’s defense team in that case as well.[20]
August 1, 2023: Special Counsel Jack Smith charges Donald Trump in the election-obstruction case in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, and Blanche also appears as a Trump defense lawyer in this proceeding.[21]
May 30, 2024: Donald Trump is convicted on all 34 felony counts in the Stormy Daniels case.[22]
July 1, 2024: The U.S. Supreme Court decides the Trump v. United States case regarding the election-obstruction case, creating absolute immunity for core presidential acts, presumptive immunity for other official acts, and no immunity for unofficial acts, a highly controversial decision.[23]
July 10, 2024: Todd Blanche, representing Donald J. Trump, files a motion with the Supreme Court of the State of New York in the County of New York “to dismiss the Indictment [against Trump] and vacate the jury’s verdicts based on the Presidential immunity doctrine articulated by the Supreme Court of the United States in Trump v. United States, 2024 WL 3237603 (July 1, 2024) and the Supremacy Clause.”[24]
July 15, 2024: U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, dismisses the classified-documents indictment against Trump after accepting the defense argument that Special Counsel Smith’s appointment violated the Appointments Clause, a novel claim suggested by Clarence Thomas in the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling and a claim contrary to how the special counsel regulations had been interpreted since 1999 after the expiration of the independent counsel statute.[25]
November 25, 2024: Judge Tanya Chutkan dismisses the federal election interference case against President-elect Donald Trump in response to the unprecedented immunity ruling.[26]
Todd Blanche’s Involvement in the Epstein Files Controversy as Deputy Attorney General & Acting Attorney General: Timeline
November 14, 2024: Donald Trump picks his personal criminal defense attorney Todd Blanche to be the Deputy Attorney General of the United States, creating a serious conflict-of-interest with the American public.[27]
February 12, 2025: Blanche appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation hearing as Deputy Attorney General. During the confirmation process, Blanche repeatedly dodges questions about whether he would recuse himself from matters related to Trump, saying he does not think the president would ask him to do anything illegal or immoral.[28]
In response to the Questions for the Record (QFRs) from Senator Cory Booker, Blanche avoids a direct question about whether or not he will ‘recuse’ himself from cases that may conflict with his prior representation of Donald Trump but says: “In the event of any potential conflict of interest, I will consult with the appropriate Department of Justice ethics officials and act consistent with governing regulations.”[29]
In addition, in his written response to the QFRs Blanche seems to draw no distinction between his personal representation of Donald Trump in criminal defense work in the private sector and his duties and role as Deputy Attorney General of the United States representing the American public because, he claims, they share similar views on restoring “integrity” to the Justice Department and enforcing the “rule of law,” and he says it was an “honor” to represent Trump.[30]
February 21, 2025: During an interview with John Roberts on Fox News, Attorney General Bondi is asked: “The DOJ may be releasing the list of Jeffrey Epstein’s clients? Will that really happen?” Bondi responded: “It’s sitting on my desk right now to review. That’s been a directive by President Trump. I’m reviewing that,” Bondi said.[31] [Emphasis added.]
February 27, 2025: Attorney General Pam Bondi releases the “first phase” of the “declassified” Epstein Files.[32] The release is criticized since most of the information, including flight logs of Epstein’s aircraft, has already been in the public domain.[33]
March 5, 2025: The Senate confirms Todd Blanche as Deputy Attorney General on a 52–46 party-line vote.[34] As Deputy Attorney General, Blanche manages the Justice Department’s day-to-day operations.[35]
May/June 2025: At some point in May or June 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi informs President Trump that his name appears in the Epstein files. The timing is not exactly clear. The Wall Street Journal reported that the meeting took place in May[36] However, Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan reported that the same meeting took place in June and that it included Deputy AG Blanche. [37] In their story on this meeting, they also say that Blanche assured Trump: “We’ve gone through the files. There’s not a lot there. A lot of child pornography – obviously we can’t put any of that out. There are some mentions of you, but nothing substantive.” [38]
July 7, 2025: A two-page DOJ/FBI memo is released saying DOJ found “no incriminating ‘client list’” for Epstein, which seems contradictory to Bondi’s February statement. The memo says DOJ turned up more than 300 gigabytes of data and physical evidence. “Consistent with prior disclosures,” the memo says, “this review confirmed that Epstein harmed over one thousand victims. Each suffered unique trauma. Sensitive information relating to these victims is intertwined throughout the materials. This includes specific details such as victim names and likenesses, physical descriptions, places of birth, associates, and employment history.” However, it concludes that it has already provided the public with “maximum information regarding Epstein” and that “it is the determination of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.” In addition, the memo said that its “systematic review revealed no incriminating “client list,” which seems contradictory to AG Bondi’s earlier statement and ignited a backlash that included staunch Trump supporters, fueling demands for transparency that ultimately led Congress to act.[39] [Emphasis added.]
July 9, 2025: FBI Director Kash Patel and his then Deputy, Dan Bongino, are both reportedly summoned to a meeting in the White House Situation Room, according Haberman and Swan’s reporting in the New York Times Magazine; White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, her deputy, Taylor Budowich, Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy, Todd Blanche, were also in attendance.[40] According to the reporting, Wiles accused Bongino of leaking a sensitive story about Epstein and Trump to ABC News. Bongino adamantly denied the accusations, voiced his frustrations with how the White House was handling the Epstein affair, stormed out of the room, and reportedly remained in his position rather than resigning ‘for Trump’s sake,’ according to the reporting. Haberman and Swan wrote that Bongino believed Bondi was to blame for the Epstein public relations disaster and reportedly told a confidant, “This is going to be President Trump’s Iran-Contra.”[41]
July 15, 2025: Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY), and Rohit (“Ro”) Khanna (D-CA) introduced H.R. 4405, the Epstein Files Transparency Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. Importantly, the law, which was later signed into law by President Trump on November 19, 2025, said, in part: “No record shall be withheld, delayed, or redacted on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.”[42]
July 17, 2025: Deputy AG Todd Blanche, and several other senior administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, meet in the White House Situation Room at around 6:00 p.m. to discuss a damage control strategy surrounding the Epstein Files, according to Reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan.[43] In this particular meeting, there were nine people in the room and Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel joined on speakerphone, according to Haberman and Swan. The discussion reportedly focused on the coming release of a Wall Street Journal article about Trump’s relationship with Epstein. Vice President Vance allegedly suggested enlisting Tucker Carlson to interview Ghislaine Maxwell in prison, hoping that she would say she had not witnessed Trump involved in any “wrongdoing” with Epstein.
For his part, Haberman and Swan wrote that AG Blanche, President Trump’s former criminal defense attorney, laid out two options. Petition the Federal District Courts in both Florida and New York to unseal the grand jury testimonies. “If the courts refused to unseal them – as Blanche predicted – they could shift the blame for withholding the Epstein material away from the Trump administration and onto the judges,” wrote Haberman and Swan. “Blanche’s suggestion would make it appear that the White House wanted the materials released, when it was almost certain not to happen,” they wrote. Reportedly, those in the meeting thought this was a good idea.
According to the report, Blanche suggested that option two would be to have a DOJ attorney question Maxwell and release the transcript of the interview publicly, and Blanche offered to conduct the interview himself. However, “Blanche raised the possibility that Maxwell’s lawyer might expect something in return for her candor,” the two reporters wrote. Several in the room strongly disapproved of offering Maxwell a pardon or reduction in her sentence.
In the midst of this meeting, based on the extraordinary reporting from Haberman and Swan, the Wall Street Journal article they were fretting about was published online, with the headline: “Jeffrey Epstein’s Friends Sent Him Bawdy Letters for a 50th Birthday Album. One Was From Donald Trump.”[44] A birthday card attributed to Trump “depicted a nude woman, hand-drawn and inscribed with an imagined dialogue between the two men about a ‘wonderful secret,’” wrote Haberman and Swan. “The drawing was signed with what appeared to be Trump’s distinctive jagged Sharpie signature in place of the woman’s public hair,” they wrote.
Within three hours of the crisis management team reportedly assembling in the White House Situation Room to strategize about how to deal with the Epstein saga, Donald Trump took the team’s advice and posted on Truth Social at 9:07 p.m.[45] The post is pasted below:
July 22, 2025: Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche posts on X that he has communicated with Ghislaine Maxwell’s attorney about potentially speaking with DOJ prosecutors. “This Department of Justice does not shy away from uncomfortable truths, nor from the responsibility to pursue justice wherever the facts may lead,” wrote Blanche on his social media post.[46]
July 24, 2025: Deputy AG Blanche personally interviews Ghislaine Maxwell — who was serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking — for roughly six hours at the U.S. Attorney’s Office inside the federal courthouse in downtown Tallahassee, Florida,[47] an incredibly unusual and unprecedented step for a senior DOJ official.[48] [49] Such interviews are routinely conducted by an agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or a line prosecutor at the Department of Justice. DOJ also grants Maxwell ‘limited immunity’ to discuss the Epstein matter.[50] [51] Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus describes the interview as “very productive” [52] and ABC News reports that Maxwell initiated the meeting.[53]
Blanche announced the session on X, writing: “Today, I met with Ghislaine Maxwell, and I will continue my interview of her tomorrow.”[54] [55]
July 25, 2025: Deputy AG Blanche conducts a second day of interviews with Maxwell at the same courthouse, bringing the total interview time to approximately nine hours over two days.[56] Also present were Diego Pestana, the acting associate deputy attorney general, FBI Special Agent Spencer Horn, and Deputy U.S. Marshal Mark Beard.[57] Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, said she was asked about roughly one hundred different people and answered every question without holding back.[58] The Justice Department later publishes a redacted transcript and audio recordings of both days of Maxwell’s interviews with Deputy AG Blanche.[59]
July 28, 2025: Following two days of interviews with Deputy AG Todd Blanche and being granted ‘limited immunity,’ Ghislaine Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, files a new petition with the Supreme Court seeking to overturn her 2021 sexual trafficking conviction.[60] [61] The court later rejects the appeal.[62]
July 28, 2025: Senators Durbin and Whitehouse write to Deputy AG Blanche requesting he provide details about his meeting with Maxwell, why DOJ concluded there was no Epstein “client list,” related information, and a commitment not to pardon or commute the sentence of Ms. Maxwell.[63]
Late July 2025: Haberman and Swan reported that another Epstein focused meeting was held in the White House Situation Room in late July 2025.[64] The meeting reportedly included the same basic participants as the previous meetings, including Vice President JD Vance, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and others; this meeting focused on congressional pressure to fully release the Epstein files, and Todd Blanche, who had personally reviewed many of the files provided his assessment of the material and they discussed how the records should be released. Deputy White House Chief of Staff James Blair said they would aim to cooperate fully with a reported forthcoming House subpoena, “but that the priority was to release information that demonstrated Trump was not involved in Epstein’s crimes,” wrote Haberman and Swan. There was also discussion of Deputy AG Blanche appearing on Joe Rogan’s podcast “to promote the transparency from the White House,” Haberman and Swan wrote.
August 1, 2025: A federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) official confirms to USA Today that Ghislaine Maxwell has been unexpectedly transferred to a lower security prison, the Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas, from the Federal Corrections Institution (FCI) Tallahassee where she was held in Florida after two days of meetings with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.[65] [66] The unusual move required BOP officials to issue a waiver because of her offense category as a violent sexual trafficker.[67] The Bryan prison camp is described as a “Real Housewives prison” with a country club atmosphere.[68] The Department of Justice denied that Maxwell received special treatment and said the transfer was due to credible security threats against her.[69] Former Bureau of Prisons officials expressed outrage, saying Maxwell appeared to be receiving preferential treatment.[70]
August 5, 2025: Asked whether he approved the transfer of Ghislaine Maxwell, Trump said: “I didn’t know about it at all, no. I read about it just like you did. It’s not a very uncommon thing,” said Trump. At the same time, he also said that anything Deputy AG Blanche discussed with Maxwell would be “totally above board.”[71]
August 7, 2025: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Ranking Member on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, wrote to the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, William K. Marshall III, demanding records on the transfer and Todd Blanche’s role. He also wrote that the meeting between Blanche and Maxwell “was doubly unusual because of Mr. Blanche’s former role as President Trump’s personal criminal attorney and the ongoing political scandal resulting from the Wall Street Journal’s report that Ms. Maxwell assembled a birthday book for Epstein that included a personal note from President Trump.”[72]
August 13, 2025: The White House Epstein crisis management team meets again at 6:00 p.m. for two hours, according to reporting by Haberman and Swan, to refine their Epstein defense strategy, and Vice President JD Vance pushed to release as much Epstein material as possible. Haberman and Swan also report that VP Vance had just spoken with Joe Rogan prior to the meeting and later told others that Rogan said he would take VP Vance on his show, but not Deputy AG Blanche.
According to the reporting, during the meeting the 2015 defamation case brought by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, which was settled in 2017, came up. Giuffre met Epstein when she was working at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago hotel as a spa attendant and she died by suicide in April 2025. Her defamation suit included emails from Sarah Ransome, also an Epstein victim, who claimed she knew a girl trafficked by Epstein who claimed to have had sex with Trump, according to Haberman and Swan’s recap of the case. Ransome’s own credibility, however, had issues. She had once reportedly made a claim that she had video footage of men in Epstein’s orbit having sex with young girls only later to retract this claim, saying she was fearful to proceed, according to Haberman and Swan.
In this August White House meeting, Haberman and Swan wrote: “Blanche argued that in context, the Ransome document – and Ransome’s disavowal of some of her other claims – would make clear why the allegations related to Trump had never been pursued for prosecution. Besides, these allegations were already available online because of what had been unsealed, so there was no reason to leave them off the Justice Department website,” Blanche reportedly said, according to Haberman and Swan.[73]
August 22, 2025: Acting AG Todd Blanche posts on X that the Department of Justice has released the redacted transcripts and audio of his two days of interviews with Maxwell.[74] [75]
September 3, 2025: Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and all 18 other Democratic members on the Committee send a 5-page letter to DOJ’s Acting IG William Blier requesting an investigation of the circumstances surrounding Ghislaine Maxwell’s prison transfer days after she spent two full days in an interview with Deputy AG Todd Blanche.[76] [77]
November 9, 2025: Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary sends a letter to President Trump requesting that he make Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche available for a public hearing regarding Ghislaine Maxwell, her treatment by the Bureau of Prisons, and her reported efforts to file a “commutation application” with the Trump Administration.[78]
November 13, 2025: Blanche publicly defends his Maxwell interview amid multiple excoriating social media posts that question why he met with Maxwell.[79] One social media post on X by George Conway questioned Blanche’s intentions for the interview.[80]
November 18, 2025: The House passes the Epstein Files Transparency Act by a vote of 427–1 and the Senate passed it by unanimous consent the same evening.[81]
November 19, 2025: President Trump signs the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law, giving the Department of Justice 30 days — until December 19, 2025 — to release all records related to Epstein and Maxwell, with narrow exceptions such as protecting victims’ identities. [82] [83] Months later Attorney General Pam Bondi confirms under oath in congressional testimony that Deputy AG Blanche managed release of the Epstein files and compliance with the enacted law.[84]
December 19, 2025: The Epstein Files Transparency Act deadline for the Department of Justice to release all records related to Jeffrey Epstein.[85] Deputy AG Blanche sends a letter to “Members of Congress” asserting that DOJ “is producing hundreds of thousands of pages of responsive materials in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act” describing the release as President Trump and AG Bondi’s “commitment to following the law, being transparent, and protecting victims.”[86] The letter describes the DOJ review process, summarizes the latest production, says DOJ “has worked diligently to meet the [Epstein] Act’s deadline,” but that due to the volume of material DOJ must review prior to release they will not meet the Act’s deadline, but will produce records on a rolling basis over the coming weeks.[87] [88] [89] Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican co-sponsor of the Epstein Act, said Bondi and Blanche had grossly failed to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law, and Senate Judiciary Democrats likewise said the DOJ had failed to comply with the Act.[90]
That same day, Deputy Attorney General Blanche tells Fox News that DOJ would only release “several hundred thousand” documents by the deadline (Friday, December 19, 2025) “and then over the next couple weeks, I expect several hundred thousand more,” he says. “Just so everybody appreciates, President Trump has said for years that he wants full transparency and he wants the Department of Justice to release everything that we can with respect to this investigation and cases,” Blanche said.[91]
December 20, 2025: The Department of Justice posts on X saying it “is not redacting the names of any politicians” and refers to comments made by Deputy AG Todd Blanche.[92]
December 21, 2025 — Asked on NBC’s Meet the Press whether he took congressional impeachment and contempt threats seriously regarding his handling of the Epstein files, Blanche replied: “Not even a little bit. Bring it on.”[93] [94]
Blanche also defended DOJ’s actions, saying: “We are in every way, shape and form complying with the statute, which, by the way, is what President Trump has been asking us to do since before he was elected. There is nothing that he has to hide in the Epstein files, there never was.”
Blanche defended not releasing some photos of women that may have included Trump. He responded to a question about pulling down a photo, saying: “It has nothing to do with President Trump. There are dozens of photos of President Trump already released to the public seeing him with Mr. Epstein. He has said that in the 90s and early 2000s he socialized with him. … So, the absurdity of us pulling down a photo, a single photo because President Trump was in it is laughable.”[95] Blanche said the only redactions being applied to the Epstein files were those required by law and denied that DOJ was redacting politicians’ names, after Democrats alleged that some posted files — including a photo of Trump — had disappeared from the DOJ’s public webpage.[96]
Blanche told NBC’s Welker: “We are not redacting information around President Trump, around any other individual involved with Mr. Epstein.” …. “Let me just make sure everybody understands something. To the extent that he is quote in the Epstein files it’s not because he had anything to do with the horrific crimes. Full stop. But yes, if President Trump is mentioned, if there’s photographs that we have of President Trump or anybody else they of course will be released with the exception of any victims or survivors that we have identified….”[97]
December 22, 2025: Tens of thousands of documents from the Epstein files are briefly posted on the DOJ’s website before being taken down.[98] On that same day Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) criticizes this temporary release in a post on X:
December 23, 2026: The Department of Justice posts on X that it released nearly 30,000 pages of new Epstein records.[99]
December 24, 2025: The DOJ discloses that more than one million additional potentially responsive records have been discovered, further slowing the release process by a “few more weeks.”[100] The same day, a bipartisan group of one dozen U.S. Senators led by Richard Blumenthal and Lisa Murkowski formally ask the DOJ Inspector General to review DOJ’s conduct regarding the Epstein files it has released, the delays in releasing files it has not yet released or are refusing to release, as well as its process for redacting records.[101] CNBC also reports that Reps. Massie and Ro Khanna have threatened to hold Bondi and Blanche in inherent contempt, and that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed to force a vote on suing the DOJ for the full release.[102]
January 4, 2026: The Office of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche produces an unsigned memorandum titled: “Attorney Review Protocol for Epstein Files.”[103] The memo provides background on the criminal charges against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, the records required to be released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the process used to de-duplicate records, how to “tag” relevant records, permitted withholdings and redactions, particularly victims’ names, photographs and related information, and various privilege claims.
January 30, 2026: Deputy AG Blanche holds a news conference outlining DOJ’s redaction protocols and procedures to protect victims’ identities and announces that DOJ is releasing more than 3 million pages of Epstein-related records, including more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, bringing the administration’s total production to roughly 3.5 million pages.[104] [105] He says that more than 500 lawyers and other personnel spent 75 days, including weekends and holidays, reviewing more than 6 million collected pages — which he described as “two Eiffel Towers of pages” — to decide what could be released.[106]
Blanche asserts that DOJ has now fulfilled its obligations under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, while disclosing that approximately 200,000 pages had been redacted or withheld on the basis of various claimed privileges.[107] At the press conference, Blanche states, “The categories of documents withheld include those permitted under the act to be withheld, files that contain personally identifying information of victims or victim’s personal and medical files and similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. Any depiction of CSAM [Child Sexual Abuse Material] or child pornography was obviously excluded. Anything that would jeopardize an active federal investigation. And finally, anything that depicts or contain images of death, physical abuse, or injury, also not produced.”[108] [Emphasis Added]. However, DOJ announces no charges against anyone related to child porn, murder, sexual abuse, or physical abuse.
The released files include a “rape claim” against Donald Trump that he has long denied, according to CNN.[109] Blanche says DOJ has completed its review, that no more documents will be released, that the White House had “no oversight” of the process, and he says members of Congress can make arrangements with DOJ to view unredacted portions of records not publicly released.[110] He acknowledged that “mistakes are inevitable” in a production of that size and directed anyone spotting problems to a DOJ tip-line email address.[111]
Reporters reviewing the files found that they included unredacted names and photographs of Epstein victims, despite the law’s explicit victim-privacy requirements.[112] Epstein survivors and lawmakers from both parties blasted the release as incomplete, noting the gap between the 6 million pages collected and the roughly 3.5 million produced.[113]
January 31, 2026: Rep. Raskin, Ranking Member on the House Judiciary Committee writes to Deputy AG Blanche demanding swift access to the unredacted files and calling it strange that DOJ claims to be in full compliance with the Epstein Act after releasing only about half of the more than 6 million potentially responsive pages it had identified.[114]
February 3, 2026: Fox News’ Laura Ingraham takes to X to defend Blanche and the controversy surrounding the release of the Epstein files.[115]
February 11, 2026: Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before the House Committee on the Judiciary and is grilled about the Epstein files.[116] [117] During the hearing a reporter notices that AG Bondi has records that appear to be the search history of Members of Congress who reviewed unredacted Epstein files at the Department of Justice and the DOJ acknowledges this remarkable revelation which explodes in the coming days.[118]
February 12, 2026: Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson joins democrats in condemning the DOJ monitoring of congressional members’ search of the Epstein files.[119]
February 14, 2026: Deputy AG Blanche signs a six-page letter on letterhead from his office to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees from AG Pam Bondi that outlines DOJ’s justification for redactions made in the Epstein files and includes a list of scores of “all government officials and politically exposed persons” named in the files, including Donald, Ivanka, and Melania Trump.[120] The letter is covered by multiple media outlets, including The Hill, Reuters, and other news organizations.[121] [122]
February 15, 2026: The Justice Department states that all files required under the Epstein Files Transparency Act have been released, following the major tranches of December 2025 and January 2026.[123] Members of Congress nonetheless continued to accuse the DOJ of mishandling the release — including failing to protect survivors’ names and images, omitting the identities of some prominent figures, and monitoring lawmakers’ search activity in the files.[124]
March 17, 2026: Deputy AG Blanche defends DOJ’s Epstein record in a 55-minute podcast interview with Katie Miller, Stephen Miller’s wife, who opened her show by telling Blanche that mothers concerned about protecting children felt he had failed them and asking Blanche whether he had failed the kids.[125] [126] That same day, Rep. James Comer, Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government issues a subpoena to Attorney General Pam Bondi to appear for a deposition on the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein investigation and compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.[127]
April 1, 2026: Donald Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi as public and congressional pressure regarding DOJ’s mishandling of the release of the Epstein files rises.[128]
April 2, 2026: President Trump appoints his long-time criminal defense attorney, Todd Blanche, as the Acting U.S. Attorney, elevating and exasperating the conflicts of interest that already existed with Todd Blanche as the Deputy Attorney General.[129] [130] In an interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters[131] that evening, his first as acting attorney general, Blanche insists that Bondi’s handling of the Epstein files played no role in her firing.[132] In the same appearance, Blanche argues that the Epstein saga “should not be part of anything going forward” at DOJ, denies that Epstein was a spy for a foreign government, and credits the Trump administration with transparency — prompting visible skepticism even from the friendly host.[133]
For fuller context, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche responding to questions about the Epstein files said:
“The Department of Justice has now released all of the files with respect to the Epstein saga. The attorney general and I appeared in front of Congress voluntarily a couple of weeks ago to answer any questions they had. And so, I think that to the extent that the Epstein files was a part of the past year of this Justice Department, it should not be a part of anything going forward.”[134] [Emphasis Added].
May 19, 2026: Acting AG Todd Blanche testifies before the Senate Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. During the hearing Blanche claims, “[T]he President did not have anything to do with my choice to go interview Ms. Maxwell.”[135] He also acknowledges that the DOJ “failed” in its rollout of the Epstein files by releasing victims’ identities and personal information.[136] Blanche also claims that the DOJ had not been legally permitted to release the documents before the Transparency Act became law — a claim analysts noted was absent from DOJ’s own July 2025 memo, which had instead cited victim-privacy concerns as reasons for withholding the files.[137]
Blanche’s exchange with Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) regarding Blanche’s denial that Trump asked him to interview Ghislaine Maxwell is included below:
Sen. Jack Reed (1:49:23): No, no. This is a person of extra special interest to the President of the United States. He’s known her. Why did he send you down to talk to her?
Todd Blanche (1:49:33): He didn’t send me. I went. What do you mean? You think President Trump called and asked me to go interview a witness in federal prison? Honestly?
Sen. Jack Reed (1:49:40): Yes, I do, frankly. Because you know why?
Todd Blanche (1:49:42): Well, he didn’t. He didn’t.
Sen. Jack Reed (1:49:45): The deal was in.
Todd Blanche (1:49:45 – talking over each other): I mean, you can say that, but you want the truth? You want the truth?
Sen. Jack Reed (1:49:47): He needed somebody he could rely upon to talk to her and say, “What would she say if she was asked about Jeffrey Epstein?” And you were the perfect choice. And you went down there and suddenly shazam, she’s out of what is a more confining situation into a much more relaxed federal prison.
Todd Blanche (1:50:06): Every word that I asked her is recorded and available to you to review. If there’s criticisms of the question that I asked her, go ahead and make them. But the President did not have anything to do with my choice to go interview Ms. Maxwell. If I wouldn’t have went and a career would’ve went, you would’ve said, “Why didn’t you go yourself?” Just like you expect me to know whether she has access to her own shower. [Emphasis added].[138]
May 29, 2026: Former Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in a closed-door, non-public, transcribed interview. Democratic members subsequently released the transcript of the interview. In the interview, former AG Bondi acknowledges that “redaction errors” were made in the release of the Epstein files but also says that Deputy AG Blanche was in charge of the Epstein files, not her. “As the head of a large department with broad responsibilities, I did not lead every aspect of this effort nor conduct that document review myself. I delegated that oversight over this process to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche,” said Bondi. At another point in the interview, she said Blanche “was in charge of the [redaction] process and the entire release of the Epstein files.”[139] [140] [141] [142] [143] [Emphasis added].
June 2, 2026: Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform asks Chairman James Comer to request an interview with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to be conducted under oath and filmed for release to the public. Based on a June 10, 2026, letter from Rep. Garcia to Rep. Comer, Chairman Comer reportedly accepted this request.[144]
June 4, 2026: Rep. James Comer, Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and other Republican members write to Acting AG Todd Blanche requesting that DOJ investigate sexual assault allegations made by Sarah Kellen during her transcribed interview with the committee on May 21, 2026, alleging sexual assault committed by Philip Levine, the former Mayor of Miami Beach from 2013 to 2017, and Frédéric Fekkai, a French celebrity hairstylist.[145]
June 8, 2026: Trump formally sends Blanche’s nomination for Attorney General to the U.S. Senate, sixty-seven days after he became acting attorney general.[146] Coverage of the nomination notes that Blanche faces an uphill confirmation battle, with senators having castigated him over the Epstein files release alongside other controversies, including prosecutions of Trump’s perceived political enemies and the attempt to establish a $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization” settlement fund, ostensibly as a means to pay Trump’s political allies.[147]
June 10, 2026: The New York Times Magazine publishes an expose, authored by reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, on the White House’s efforts to allegedly coverup release of Epstein files that engulfed President Trump, and details Todd Blanche’s role in overseeing the release of the Epstein files.[148]
June 22, 2026: One hundred and one (101) judges file an ethics complaint against Todd Blanche with the Supreme Court of the State of New York, focusing on his conflicts of interest.[149] [150]
June 25, 2026: U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan issues a 48-page Memorandum Opinion in a lawsuit requesting the release of remaining Epstein files. The lawsuit against Todd Blanche in his capacity as Acting Attorney General was filed by Katie Phang in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Judge Sullivan orders DOJ to either release unredacted versions of the Epstein records or explain why it is unable to do so and gave DOJ a one-week deadline to comply by Thursday, July 2, 2026. Judge Sullivan noted that the Epstein Files Transparency Act requires the full release of these files and says, “The [Acting] Attorney General has conceded that he is in violation of the Act.”[151]
July 15, 2026: Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche is scheduled to appear before the U.S. Senate Committee on Judiciary for his confirmation hearing as U.S. Attorney General.
ENDNOTES:
[1] “The Trump Trials,” LAWFARE, https://www.lawfaremedia.org/projects-series/archived-projects/the-trump-trials
[2] Mike Crawley, “Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump: a timeline,” CANADIAN BROADCATING CORPORATION (CBC) NEWS (August 8, 2025), https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-epstein-timeline-1.7604277
[3] Rebecca Schneid, “Inside Trump and Epstein’s Long, Complicated Relationship,” TIME (November 12, 2025), https://time.com/7333365/trump-epstein-relationship-timeline/
[4] Testimony of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, U.S. Senate (May 19, 2026), https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-review-of-the-presidents-fiscal-year-2027-budget-request-for-the-department-of-justice
[5] Julie K. Brown, “Jeffrey Epstein arrested on sex trafficking charges,” MIAMI HERALD (Updated July 11, 2019), https://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article232374872.html
[6] Epstein Files Memo, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) and FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS (FBI), https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1407001/dl?inline
[7] “Ghislaine Noelle Marion Maxwell,” PRSIONPEDIA, https://www.prisonpedia.com/wiki/Ghislaine_Maxwell
[8] “Ghislaine Noelle Marion Maxwell,” PRSIONPEDIA, https://www.prisonpedia.com/wiki/Ghislaine_Maxwell
[9] Sheri Walsh, “Ghislaine Maxwell transferred to low-security prison in Florida” UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL (UPI), (July 25, 2022). https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2022/07/25/florida-Ghislaine-Maxwell-moved-to-Tallahassee-prison-serve-20-year-sentence-Jeffrey-Epstein-sex-trafficking-scheme/8391658789529
[10] United States of America vs. Ghislaine Maxwell, 22-1426-crUNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT, (Argued: March 12, 2024; Decided: September 17, 2024), https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/OPN/22-1426_opn.pdf
[11] Tanner Stening, “What is life actually like for Ghislaine Maxwell inside her Texas prison?” NORTHEASTERN GLOBAL NEWS, (November 18, 2025), https://news.northeastern.edu/2025/11/18/ghislaine-maxwell-club-fed-prison/
[12] “Trump Prosecuted in New York,” A Guide to Trump’s Trials, LAWFARE (March 30, 2023),
https://www.lawfaremedia.org/projects-series/archived-projects/the-trump-trials
[13] Debra Cassens Weiss, “Cadwalader partner reportedly resigns to lead Trump’s representation in Manhattan DA’s criminal case,” ABA JOURNAL (April 3, 2023), https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/cadwalader-partner-reportedly-resigns-to-lead-trumps-representation-in-manhattan-das-criminal-case
[14] “Lawyers in Donald Trump’s hush money trial: Meet the attorneys and prosecutors battling it out in the Stormy Daniels case,” DAILY MAIL (April 15, 2024), https://www.dailymail.com/news/us-politics/article-13307955/trump-attorneys-manhattan-prosecutors-stormy-daniels-case.html
[15] Todd Blanche, LINKEDIN profile, https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddblanche/
[16] Response to Questions for the Record (QFRs) from Senator Cory A. Booker to Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General Nominee, U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY (February 13, 2025), https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2025-02-12_-_qfr_responses_-_blanche.pdf
[17] “Save America PAC,” BALLOTPEDIA, https://ballotpedia.org/Save_America
[18] “District Attorney Bragg Announces 34-Count Felony Indictment of Former President Donald J. Trump,” MANHATTAND DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, (April 4, 2023), https://manhattanda.org/district-attorney-bragg-announces-34-count-felony-indictment-of-former-president-donald-j-trump/
[19] Luc Cohen and Andrew Goudsward, “Who is Todd Blanche, Donald Trump’s lawyer in his Stormy Daniels trial?” REUTERS, (April 24, 2024), https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-lawyer-todd-blanche-draws-judges-ire-historic-trial-gets-underway-2024-04-24/
[20] United States v. Donald J. Trump and Waltine Nauta, “Indictment,” No. 9:23-CR-80101, UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA (June 8, 2023) https://www.justice.gov/storage/US_v_Trump-Nauta_23-80101.pdf.
[21] United States v. Donald J. Trump, “Indictment,” No. 1:23-cr-00257-TSC, UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (August 1, 2023), https://www.justice.gov/storage/US_v_Trump_23_cr_257.pdf.
[22] “D.A. Bragg Announces 34-Count Felony Trial Conviction of Donald J. Trump,” MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE (May 30, 2024), https://manhattanda.org/d-a-bragg-announces-34-count-felony-trial-conviction-of-donald-j-trump/
[23] Supreme Court, Trump v. United States, No. 23-939 (July 1, 2024), https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-939_e2pg.pdf.
[24] “Notice of President Donald J. Trump’s Post-Trial Presidential Immunity Motion,” The People of the State of New York vs. Donald J. Trump, Defendant, Index No. 71543-23, SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK (July 10, 2024), https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/press/PDFs/DJT-Notice-Immunity-Motion-2024.07.10.pdf
[25] United States District Court, Order, United States v. Trump, No. 9:23-cr-80101 (S.D. Fla. July 15, 2024), https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652/gov.uscourts.flsd.648652.672.0.pdf.
[26] Katherine Faulders, Alexander Mallin and Peter Charalambous, “Judge dismisses federal election interference case against President-elect Donald Trump” ABC NEWS (November 25, 2024), https://abc7ny.com/post/special-counsel-jack-smith-files-motion-dismiss-federal-election-interference-case-president-elect-trump/15586019/.
[27] Bart Jansen, “Donald Trump picks his criminal lawyer, Todd Blanche, as deputy attorney general,” USA TODAY (November 14, 2024), https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/14/donald-trump-todd-blanche-deputy-attorney-general/76302898007/
[28] Nomination hearing of Todd Blanche to be Deputy Attorney General of the United States, U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY (February 12, 2025), https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-activity/hearings/02/12/2025/nominations
[29] Response to Questions for the Record (QFRs) from Senator Cory A. Booker to Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General Nominee, U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY (February 13, 2025), https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2025-02-12_-_qfr_responses_-_blanche.pdf
[30] Response to Questions for the Record (QFRs) from Senator Dirck Durbin, Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, to Todd Wallace Blanche, Deputy Attorney General Nominee, U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY (February 13, 2025), https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2025-02-12_-_qfr_responses_-_blanche.pdf
[31] Haley Chi-Sing, “Bondi says Epstein client list ‘sitting on my desk right now,’ and is reviewing JFK, MLK files,” FOX NEWS (February 21, 2025), https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bondi-says-epstein-client-list-sitting-my-desk-right-now-reviewing-jfk-mlk-files
[32] “Attorney General Pamela Bondi Releases First Phase of Declassified Epstein Files,” Press Release with links to the files, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (February 27, 2025), https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-pamela-bondi-releases-first-phase-declassified-epstein-files
[33] James Hill and Aaron Katersky, “DOJ releases ‘first phase’ of Epstein files, including an evidence list,” ABC NEWS (February 27, 2025), https://abcnews.com/US/doj-releases-phase-epstein-files-including-evidence-list/story?id=119274954
[34] Alanna Durkin Richer, “Senate confirms former Trump defense attorney Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general,” ASSOCIATED PRESS (AP) (March 5, 2025), https://apnews.com/article/todd-blanche-trump-lawyer-deputy-attorney-general-5d526fd4c5919bc2e9522e4f7bfbf758
[35] Dareh Gregorian, Ryan J. Reilly and Katherine Doyle, “From Trump’s attorney to the Epstein files: Todd Blanche’s rise to attorney general,” NBC NEWS (April 2, 2026), https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/todd-blanche-interim-attorney-general-pam-bondi-firing-what-know-rcna266451
[36] Jeff Mason, Andrew Goudsward and Joseph Ax, “Trump was told he is in Epstein files, Wall Street Journal reports,” REUTERS (July 23, 2025), https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-was-told-he-is-epstein-files-wall-street-journal-reports-2025-07-23/
[37] Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, “Inside the White House Freakout Over the Epstein Files,” THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE (June 10, 2026), https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/magazine/trump-epstein-files-white-house-vance-doj.html
[38] Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, “Inside the White House Freakout Over the Epstein Files,” THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE (June 10, 2026), https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/magazine/trump-epstein-files-white-house-vance-doj.html
[39] Kyle Stewart, Rebecca Shabad, Dareh Gregorian and Brennan Leach, “Pam Bondi tells lawmakers ‘redaction errors’ were made in Epstein files release,” NBC NEWS, (May 29, 2026), https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/pam-bondi-tells-lawmakers-redaction-errors-made-epstein-files-release-rcna347525
[40] Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, “Inside the White House Freakout Over the Epstein Files,” THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE (June 10, 2026), https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/magazine/trump-epstein-files-white-house-vance-doj.html
[41] Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, “Inside the White House Freakout Over the Epstein Files,” THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE (June 10, 2026), https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/magazine/trump-epstein-files-white-house-vance-doj.html
[42] H.R.4405 – Epstein Files Transparency Act, U.S. House of Representatives, CONGRESS.GOV, https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4405/text?__cf_chl_f_tk=v2UUqJEiOFU0WyFjVLeK9ZpoeVLyxju04br_TQZ1Row-1782761308-1.0.1.1-ObCO4nvX_37p1TgV6hVJ5ZQ_rHb1GuOnMKNSKq2Zk3E
[43] Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, “Inside the White House Freakout Over the Epstein Files,” THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE (June 10, 2026), https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/magazine/trump-epstein-files-white-house-vance-doj.html
[44] Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo, Jeffrey Epstein’s Friends Sent Him Bawdy Letters for a 50th Birthday Album. One Was From Donald Trump,” WALL STREET JOURNAL (July 17, 2025), https://www.wsj.com/politics/trump-jeffrey-epstein-birthday-letter-we-have-certain-things-in-common-f918d796
[45] President Donald Trump post on Truth Social Regarding Epstein Grand Jury Records (July 17, 2025), https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114871557460531003
[46] Post on X by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche (July 22, 2025), https://x.com/TheJusticeDept/status/1947670804122001581
[47] Aaron Katersky, James Hill, Brandon Baur and Katherine Faulders, “Longtime Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell initiated DOJ meeting: Sources,” ABC NEWS (via AOL) (July 24, 2025), https://www.aol.com/doj-meeting-ghislaine-maxwell-set-034338409.html
[48] Kaitlan Collins and Shania Shelton, “Top DOJ official says he will meet with Ghislaine Maxwell again Friday,” CNN (July 24, 2025), https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/24/politics/todd-blanche-ghislaine-maxwell-meeting
[49] Ryan Lucas, “Todd Blanche’s past hangs over him as top DOJ official on Epstein case,” NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO (NPR) (July 29, 2025), https://www.npr.org/2025/07/29/nx-s1-5484129/todd-blanche-epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-trump
[50] Aaron Katersky, Katherine Faulders, Brandon Bauer, and Jon Haworth, “Ghislaine Maxwell received limited immunity during meetings with deputy attorney general: Sources,” ABC NEWS (July 25, 2025), https://abcnews.com/US/deputy-ag-blanche-set-meet-2nd-day-ghislaine/story?id=124064062
[51] Mike Bedigan, “Ghislaine Maxwell given ‘limited immunity’ in meetings with deputy attorney general: reports,” THE INDEPENDENT, (July 26, 2025), https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/ghislaine-maxwell-limited-immunity-doj-epstein-b2796368.html
[52] Agustina Blanco, “’Very productive’: Ghislaine Maxwell’s attorney on meeting with Todd Blanche,” VOZ (July 24, 2025), https://voz.us/en/politics/250725/27226/very-productive-ghislaine-maxwell-s-attorney-on-meeting-with-todd-blanche.html#google_vignette
[53] Aaron Katersky, James Hill, Brandon Baur and Katherine Faulders, “Longtime Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell initiated DOJ meeting: Sources,” ABC NEWS (via AOL) (July 24, 2025), https://www.aol.com/doj-meeting-ghislaine-maxwell-set-034338409.html
[54] Post on X by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, (July 24, 2025), https://x.com/DAGToddBlanche/status/1948519521071047090
[55] Kaitlan Collins and Shania Shelton, “Top DOJ official says he will meet with Ghislaine Maxwell again Friday,” CNN (July 24, 2025), https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/24/politics/todd-blanche-ghislaine-maxwell-meeting
[56] Matt Hoffmann, Jamiya Coleman, Sedrick Bolton III and Chasity Maynard, “‘Round two’: Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell meets Friday with DOJ in Tallahassee for second interview,” WCTV (Tallahassee) (July 25, 2025), https://www.wctv.tv/2025/07/25/round-two-epstein-accomplice-ghislaine-maxwell-meeting-with-doj-tallahassee-second-interview/
[57] Carrie Johnson, “Justice Department releases transcripts from its conversations with Ghislaine Maxwell,” NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO (NPR) and KPBS (August 22, 2025), https://www.kpbs.org/news/politics/2025/08/22/justice-department-releases-transcripts-from-its-conversations-with-ghislaine-maxwell
[58] Katherine Faulders, James Hill and Aaron Katersky, “Ghislaine Maxwell told DOJ Trump never did anything concerning around her: Sources,” ABC NEWS (August 6, 2025), https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-administration-considers-releasing-transcripts-doj-interview-ghislaine/story?id=124383957
[59] Ghislaine Maxwell July 24 and July 25, 2025, Interviews with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, https://www.justice.gov/maxwell-interview
[60] Gary Grumback, Tom Winter and Chloe Atkins, “Ghislaine Maxwell urges Supreme Court to hear her criminal appeal,” NBC NEWS (July 28, 2025), https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/ghislaine-maxwell-urges-supreme-court-hear-criminal-appeal-rcna217150
[61] “Reply in Support of Petition for Writ of Certiorari,” Ghislaine Maxwell, AKA Sealed Defendant 1 (Petitioner) v. United States of America (Respondent), No. 24-1073, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES (July 28, 2025), https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-1073/368155/20250728111721067_24-1073ReplyInSupportOfPetitionForWritOfCertiorari.pdf
[62] John Fritze, “Supreme Court rejects appeal from Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell,” CNN (October 6, 2025), https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/06/politics/ghislaine-maxwell-supreme-court-appeal-epstein
[63] Letter from Senators Richard Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, U.S. SENATE (July 28, 2025), https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2025-07-28%20Letter%20to%20DOJ%20re%20Maxwell.pdf
[64] Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, “Inside the White House Freakout Over the Epstein Files,” THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE (June 10, 2026), https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/magazine/trump-epstein-files-white-house-vance-doj.html
[65] Josh Meyer, “Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell quietly moved out of Florida federal prison,” USA TODAY (August 1, 2025), https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/01/epstein-accomplice-ghislaine-maxwell-moved-prisons/85475060007/
[66] Erik Ortiz, Michael Kosnar and Rich Schapiro, “Texas prison camp where Ghislaine Maxwell was moved steps up security,” NBC NEWS (August 6, 2025), https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-federal-prison-camp-bryan-ghislaine-maxwell-was-moved-steps-secu-rcna2”23464
[67] Jack Silvers, “Inmate Who Criticized Ghislaine Maxwell Punished With Move to Higher-Security Prison,” THE DAILY BEAST (August 22, 2025), https://www.thedailybeast.com/inmate-who-criticized-ghislaine-maxwell-punished-with-move-to-higher-security-prison/
[68] Jack Silvers, “Inmate Who Criticized Ghislaine Maxwell Punished With Move to Higher-Security Prison,” DAILY BEAST (via Yahoo!news) (August 22, 2025), https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/inmate-criticized-ghislaine-maxwell-punished-212745702.html
[69] Ivan Pereira, “From Trump’s criminal defense lawyer to acting AG — who is Todd Blanche?” ABC NEWS (April 3, 2026), https://abcnews.com/Politics/trumps-criminal-defense-lawyer-acting-ag-todd-blanche/story?id=131662076
[70] Zoë Richards, Dareh Gregorian, Daniel Arkin, and Nnamdi Egwuonwu, “Justice Department releases Ghislaine Maxwell interview transcript and audio file,” NBC NEWS (August 22, 2025), https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/live-updates-justice-department-releases-transcript-ghislaine-maxwell-rcna226675
[71] Katherine Faulders, James Hill and Aaron Katersky, “Ghislaine Maxwell told DOJ Trump never did anything concerning around her: Sources,” ABC NEWS (August 5, 2025), https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-administration-considers-releasing-transcripts-doj-interview-ghislaine/story?id=124383957
[72] Letter from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse to Bureau of Prisons Director William K. Marshall III, SENATOR SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, U.S. SENATE (August 7, 2025), https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-08-07-Letter-to-BOP-Maxwell-Transfer.pdf
[73] Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, “Inside the White House Freakout Over the Epstein Files,” THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE (June 10, 2026), https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/magazine/trump-epstein-files-white-house-vance-doj.html
[74] Acting AG Todd Blanche social media post on X stating that DOJ as released the transcript and audio of his two days of interviews with Maxwell, (August 22, 2025), https://x.com/DAGToddBlanche/status/1958963761345163555
[75] Carrie Johnson, “Justice Department releases transcripts from its conversations with Ghislaine Maxwell,” NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO (NPR) (via KPBS) (August 22, 2025), https://www.kpbs.org/news/politics/2025/08/22/justice-department-releases-transcripts-from-its-conversations-with-ghislaine-maxwell
[76] Letter led by Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member House committee on Oversight and Government Reform, to William Blier, Acting Inspector General, Department of Justice asking for investigation of the circumstances surrounding Ghislaine Maxwell’s prison transfer and the role of Deputy AG Todd Blanche, COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM (September 3, 2025), https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/imo/media/doc/2025-09-03.garcia-et-al-to-doj-oig-re-maxwell-transfer.pdf
[77] Filip Timotija, “Garcia demands investigation into Ghislaine Maxwell prison move,” THE HILL, (September 3, 2025), https://robertgarcia.house.gov/media/in-the-news/hill-garcia-demands-investigation-ghislaine-maxwell-prison-move
[78] Letter from Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member, House Committee on the Judiciary to President Donald Trump, HOUSE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY (November 9, 2026), https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2025-11-09-raskin-to-trump-wh-re-maxwell.pdf
[79] David Moye, “Todd Blanche’s Defense Of Ghislaine Maxwell Prison Transfer Goes As Well As You’d Expect,” HUFFINGTON POST (via AOL) (November 13, 2025), https://www.aol.com/articles/todd-blanches-defense-ghislaine-maxwell-181404238.html
[80] David Moye, “Todd Blanche’s Defense Of Ghislaine Maxwell Prison Transfer Goes As Well As You’d Expect,” HUFFINGTON POST (via AOL) (November 13, 2025), https://www.aol.com/articles/todd-blanches-defense-ghislaine-maxwell-181404238.html
[81] Claudia Grisales, “House and Senate both approve releasing the Epstein files by a near unanimous margin,” NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO (NPR) (November 18, 2025), https://www.npr.org/2025/11/18/nx-s1-5611438/epstein-files-bill-house-vote
[82] Epstein Files Transparency Act – Public Law 119-38, U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE (November 19, 2025), https://www.congress.gov/119/plaws/publ38/PLAW-119publ38.pdf
[83] “Epstein files include redacted records, more photographs as Trump DOJ criticized for handling,” NBC NEWS (Live feed) (December 19, 2025), https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/live-blog/epstein-files-release-trump-congress-live-updates-rcna245032
[84] Christina Santucci, “Bondi says Blanche was ‘in charge’ of Epstein files release,” SPECTRUM NEWS (June 5, 2026), https://spectrumlocalnews.com/us/snplus/politics/2026/06/05/pam-bondi-todd-blanche-epstein-files-investigation-house-oversight-committee-
[85] Epstein Files Transparency Act – Public Law 119-38, U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE (November 19, 2025), https://www.congress.gov/119/plaws/publ38/PLAW-119publ38.pdf
[86] Letter from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed to Members of Congress, OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL, Department of Justice (December 19, 2025), https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1434851/dl?inline=
[87] Letter from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed to Members of Congress, OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL, Department of Justice (December 19, 2025), https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1434851/dl?inline=
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[96] “US Justice Department Continues Release of Jeffrey Epstein Files,” NEWS ON AIR (December 21, 2025), https://www.newsonair.gov.in/us-justice-department-continues-release-of-jeffrey-epstein-files
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[98] Kyle Cheney and Erica Orden, “New trove of apparent Epstein files posted on DOJ site disappears,” POLITICO (December 22, 2025), https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/22/epstein-files-release-justice-department-00704265
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[114] Letter from Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member, HOUSE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Department of Justice (January 31, 2026), https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2026-01-31-raskin-to-blanche-doj-re-epstein-files.pdf
[115] Laura Ingraham post on X defending Blanche and the redaction of Epstein files, (February 3, 2026), https://x.com/IngrahamAngle/status/2018506614852985237
[116] Testimony of Pamela Bondi, Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, House Committee on the Judiciary (February 11, 2026), https://judiciary.house.gov/committee-activity/hearings/oversight-us-department-justice-5
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[118] Sara Dorn, “DOJ Admits Tracking Lawmakers’ Epstein Files Search History—As ‘Spying’ Backlash Grows,” FORBES (February 12, 2026), https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2026/02/12/doj-admits-tracking-lawmakers-epstein-files-search-history-as-spying-backlash-grows/
[119] Sara Dorn, “DOJ Admits Tracking Lawmakers’ Epstein Files Search History—As ‘Spying’ Backlash Grows,” FORBES (February 12, 2026), https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2026/02/12/doj-admits-tracking-lawmakers-epstein-files-search-history-as-spying-backlash-grows/
[120] Letter from Attorney General Pamela Bondi and signed by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Dick Durbin, and House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan and Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, titled “Re: Epstein Files Transparency Act – Section 3 Report to Congress,” OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL, Department of Justice (DOJ) (February 14, 2026), https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1434856/dl?inline
[121] Sophie Brams, “DOJ sends letter to Congress with list of people named in Epstein files, including Trump,” THE HILL (February 14, 2026), https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5739338-justice-department-epstein-files/
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[123] Aliss Higham, “What New Acting AG Todd Blanche Has Said About Epstein Files,” NEWSWEEK, (April 3, 2026), https://www.newsweek.com/what-new-acting-ag-todd-blanche-has-said-about-epstein-files-11778993
[124] Erum Salam, “Trump formally nominates Todd Blanche as attorney general,” MS NOW (June 8, 2026), https://www.ms.now/news/trump-formally-nominates-todd-blanche-as-attorney-general
[125] Interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, THE KATIE MILLER PODCAST (March 17, 2026), (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5SawTwuIu0
[126] Joe Sommerlad, “Todd Blanche grilled by Stephen Miller’s wife on Epstein’s death ahead of House testimony,” THE INDEPENDENT (via AOL) (March 18, 2026), https://www.aol.com/news/todd-blanche-grilled-stephen-miller-134215003.html
[127] Subpoena cover letter to Pamela J. Bondi, Attorney General, United States, from Rep. James Comer, Chairman, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (March 17, 2026), https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/03.17.2026-Subpoena-Cover-Letter-Bondi-FINAL.pdf
[128] Ferando Cervantes Jr., “Who is Todd Blanche? What New Yorkers need to know about Trump’s new interim AG,” AOL (April 6, 2025), https://www.aol.com/news/todd-blanche-yorkers-know-trumps-182043436.html
[129] Jennifer Jacobs, Sarah N. Lynch, Nicole Sganga, Jacob Rosen, “Trump fires Pam Bondi as attorney general, installs Todd Blanche as acting AG,” CBS NEWS (April 2, 2026), https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-pam-bondi-attorney-general/
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[131] Jesse Watters interview with Todd Blanche, “Interim Attorney General Todd Blanche rejects speculation surrounding Pam Bondi’s firing: ‘Simply not true,’” FOX NEWS (April 2, 2026), https://www.foxnews.com/video/6392478701112
[132] Victor Nava, “Acting AG Todd Blanche defends…,” NEW YORK POST (via AOL) (April 2, 2026), https://www.aol.com/articles/acting-ag-todd-blanche-defends-005537685.html
[133] Joseph Konig, “Acting AG Todd Blanche Wants DOJ to Stop Focusing on Epstein Files,” PEOPLE (via AOL) (April 3, 2026), https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/acting-ag-todd-blanche-wants-174523592.html
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[135] Testimony of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, U.S. Senate (May 19, 2026), https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-review-of-the-presidents-fiscal-year-2027-budget-request-for-the-department-of-justice
[136] Lisa Rubin and Julianne McShane, “Blanche admits DOJ ‘failed’ to protect Epstein victims’ privacy,” MS NOW (May 19, 2026), https://www.ms.now/news/news-analysis/blanche-admits-doj-failed-to-protect-epstein-victims-privacy
[137] Lisa Rubin and Julianne McShane, “Blanche admits DOJ ‘failed’ to protect Epstein victims’ privacy,” MS NOW (May 19, 2026), https://www.ms.now/news/news-analysis/blanche-admits-doj-failed-to-protect-epstein-victims-privacy
[138] Testimony of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, U.S. Senate (May 19, 2026), https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-review-of-the-presidents-fiscal-year-2027-budget-request-for-the-department-of-justice
[139] Annie Grayer, MJ Lee, Paula Reid, Marshall Cohen, “Todd Blanche was ‘in charge’ of Epstein matter, Bondi told lawmakers, according to new transcript,” CNN (June 4, 2026), https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/04/politics/pam-bondi-epstein-testimony-todd-blanche-transcript
[140] Transcript of Interview of Pamela J. Bondi, HOUSE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM, U.S. House of Representatives (May 29, 2026), https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Final-Bondi-Transcript.pdf
[141] Hailey Fuchs, “Bondi punts blame for the Epstein files to Todd Blanche,” POLITICO (June 4, 2026), https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/04/todd-blanche-pam-bondi-epstein-files-00951134?__cf_chl_tk=ljij7.fc4aITunnBJx_VoG1ipymxCsKy1RxLGIPfkEU-1780660204-1.0.1.1-wtLbUuhz7MypYdpvQyBdYbyh55WQNKIIjvuABtNltbY&ref=consejomexicano.org
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[143] Kyle Stewart, Rebecca Shabad, Dareh Gregorian and Brennan Leach, “Pam Bondi tells lawmakers ‘redaction errors’ were made in Epstein files release,” NBC NEWS (May 29, 2026), https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/pam-bondi-tells-lawmakers-redaction-errors-made-epstein-files-release-rcna347525
[144] Letter from Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to Chairman James Comer, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (June 11, 2026), https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/imo/media/doc/2026-06-11garciatocomerrewhcoverup.pdf
[145] Letter from Rep. James Comer, Chairman, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to Todd W. Blanche, Acting Attorney General, Department of Justice, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (June 4, 2026), https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Letter-to-DOJ-06.04.2026.pdf
[146] Michael Macagnone and Ryan Tarinelli, “Blanche heads into attorney general confirmation clash,” ROLL CALL (June 8, 2026), https://rollcall.com/2026/06/08/blanche-heads-into-attorney-general-confirmation-clash/
[147] Erum Salam, “Trump formally nominates Todd Blanche as attorney general,” MS NOW (June 8, 2026), https://www.ms.now/news/trump-formally-nominates-todd-blanche-as-attorney-general
[148] Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, “Inside the White House Freakout Over the Epstein Files,” THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE (June 10, 2026), https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/magazine/trump-epstein-files-white-house-vance-doj.html
[149] Isabella Gallo, “101 judges raise ethics complaint over Todd Blanche, Trump’s acting attorney general,” AMNY (June 25, 2026), https://www.amny.com/news/todd-blanche-judges-new-york-state-bar-complaint/
[150] Democracy Defenders Fund, Lawyers Defending American Democracy and 101 judges file ethics complaint against Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche with the Grievance Committee of the Supreme Court of the State of New York (June 22, 2026), https://dea5edf3-e27d-4adc-a42a-b9c082bc3167.usrfiles.com/ugd/dea5ed_b024aad49d1049c1ab03f01e8f1aa7fc.pdf
[151] Katie Phang v. Todd Blanche, in his official capacity as Acting Attorney General of the United States, “Memorandum Opinion,” Civil Action No. 26-1217, Case 1:26-cv-01417-EGS, Document 16, UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (June 25, 2025), https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.291779/gov.uscourts.dcd.291779.16.0_1.pdf