A nonpartisan government watchdog group, American Oversight, has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The lawsuit seeks a court order to compel the Department of Justice to release internal records regarding Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche.

Background

The plaintiff is requesting the expedited processing of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for communications, emails, and text messages detailing Blanche’s involvement in two high-profile matters: the federal review of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the department’s handling of investigations by former Special Counsel Jack Smith.

Blanche currently serves as Acting Attorney General and was previously the Deputy Attorney General. Before entering his current roles at the Justice Department, Blanche worked as a personal criminal defense attorney for President Donald Trump, representing him in the state and federal prosecutions brought against him, including the federal cases led by Special Counsel Smith.

Concerns Over Impartiality

The lawsuit cites congressional testimony from former Attorney General Pamela Bondi stating that Blanche had a direct, day-to-day supervisory role over the Epstein files and their public release. The court filing also highlights media reports regarding a July 2025 White House Situation Room meeting where Blanche reportedly discussed strategies for handling public scrutiny over the Epstein files.

Furthermore, the lawsuit focuses on Blanche’s actions regarding Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigations. The complaint points to public reports where Blanche allegedly discussed the departure of DOJ personnel who had worked on the Trump prosecutions.

Chioma Chukwu, Executive Director of American Oversight, stated that the records are necessary for a complete evaluation of the nominee. The lawsuit asks the federal court to overrule the Justice Department’s decision to deny expedited status and order the DOJ to finish processing and producing the non-exempt records by July 14, 2026.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.