Legal AF by MeidasTouch Trump DOJ Instantly Trapped as Judge Invites Epstein Lawsuit?!?!
Jan 21, 2026
A federal judge has opened the door for members of Congress and Epstein survivors to file a lawsuit against the DOJ for failing to comply with the Epstein Transparency Act. The judge ruled on document disclosures, stressing the need for transparency and survivor dignity. Lisa Phillips, a survivor leader, highlights the ongoing trauma from the mishandling of documents. The implications of congressional pressure and potential litigation are explored, showing the fight for justice is far from over.
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Judge Invites New Lawsuit Over Epstein Files
- Judge Engelmeyer found he lacked jurisdiction to appoint a special master over the DOJ's Epstein file production.
- He nonetheless invited Representatives Massey and Khanna and survivors to bring a separate federal lawsuit alleging violations of the Epstein Transparency Act.
DOJ's Shifting Document Totals
- Michael Popok describes chaotic DOJ counts and shifting totals for the Epstein documents, calling it a shell game.
- He explains that shifting figures (700,000 pages, 1M, 5.2M, then 2M) drove Representatives to seek court involvement.
Survivors' Voices Heard By The Court
- The judge acknowledged victims' concerns and quoted survivor Lisa Phillips approvingly in his order.
- He found the survivors' questions about DOJ compliance important and timely but said he lacked authority to grant the requested relief in that case.