Judge Criticized by Trump to Oversee Case on Jeffrey Epstein's Files

Federal Judge Tanya Chutkan, who has been a target of criticism from Donald Trump due to her role in a criminal case concerning his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, is set to preside over a lawsuit against the Department of Justice regarding the handling of the so-called Epstein Files. This lawsuit has been filed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) against the U.S. Department of Justice for its management of documents acquired during the federal investigation into the late financier and sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein.

The lawsuit was filed by the organization Democracy Forward in the District of Columbia, seeking an expedited order from Judge Chutkan to process their request, as reported by the New Republic. Known for her involvement in a case against Trump—which was dismissed following a Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity in 2024—Chutkan was appointed by Barack Obama.

Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, criticized the Trump-Vance administration for not fulfilling campaign promises to declassify significant portions of the Epstein files. “President Trump has repeatedly claimed he would release the files, his spokesperson boasts about having 'the most transparent administration in history,' yet they continue to withhold information from the American public,” Perryman stated.

The organization seeks access to communications between high-ranking officials and review records of the case, including interactions between Trump and Epstein. In February, the White House announced a limited release of documents, which included previously published flight logs and Epstein's infamous “black book,” as well as a list of evidence found at the financier's properties in New York and the Virgin Islands.

Following this announcement and statements from Attorney General Pam Bondi about possessing a client list on her desk, the administration backtracked. A memo dated July 6 revealed that after examining over 300 gigabytes of data and physical evidence, no “incriminating client list” was found.

Amid the controversy, Trump filed a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal for an article linking him to a purported birthday letter sent to Epstein. The president, who appears in several photos with the businessman, is even attempting to depose Rupert Murdoch, the paper's owner, although the deposition has been postponed due to health issues.

Democracy Forward is pushing for a swift resolution, citing the “extraordinary need” to inform the public and concern over a potential pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, sentenced to 20 years for sex trafficking minors. According to NBC, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche recently met with Maxwell, who reportedly claimed not to have seen Trump involved in misconduct during her friendship with Epstein. The Department of Justice is considering releasing transcripts of these meetings.

Shortly thereafter, Maxwell was transferred from a Florida prison to a minimum-security facility in Texas, where most inmates serve sentences for non-violent and white-collar crimes. Democracy Forward argues that these decisions could “permanently impact” Maxwell's willingness to disclose information regarding the Epstein case management and government decisions about releasing data tied to the magnate.