Case 1:25-cv-01056-LLA Document 8 Filed 07/07/25 Page 1 of 3
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.,
Plaintiff,
v. Civil Action No. 25-1056 (LLA)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
Defendant.
JOINT STATUS REPORT
Plaintiff Judicial Watch, Inc. and Defendant U.S. Department of Justice, by counsel and
pursuant to the Court’s June 12, 2025, order, respectfully submit this joint status report:
(1) the status of Plaintiff’s FOIA request
At issue in this Freedom of Information Act lawsuit are three FOIA requests served on the
U.S. Department of Justice for records related to Jeffrey Edward Epstein, who died in federal
custody in 2019. Plaintiff served its requests in February 2025. Plaintiff filed suit on April 8, 2025.
The U.S. Department of Justice filed its answer on June 6, 2025.
(2)(3) the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff’s FOIA request, and
the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff
Federal Bureau of Investigation.
• For 1662669-0 (any/all Epstein records), the FBI has run its initial searches and is
in the process of reviewing those search results.
• For 1662711-0 (Communications of Director Patel’s regarding Epstein client list),
the FBI’s search efforts are ongoing.
• The FBI does not yet have an anticipated number of documents or anticipated dates
for release.
Case 1:25-cv-01056-LLA Document 8 Filed 07/07/25 Page 2 of 3
Executive Office of United States Attorneys
• EOUSA’s initial search efforts are ongoing.
• EOUSA does not yet have an anticipated number of documents or anticipated dates
for release.
Office of Information Policy
• OIP issued a final response to FOIA-2025-02863 on April 15, 2025, informing
Plaintiff that no records responsive to its request were located.
(4) whether a motion for a stay is likely under Open America v. Watergate Special
Prosecution Force, 547 F.2d 605 (D.C. Cir. 1976)
The parties do not presently anticipate that a motion to stay under Open America v.
Watergate Special Prosecution Force, 547 F.2d 605 (D.C. Cir. 1976) is likely.
(5) whether a Vaughn index will be required in this case
Plaintiff will likely request Vaughn indices of any responsive records withheld in full.
Plaintiff may request Vaughn indices of selected withholdings in part. Plaintiff typically requests
indices be provided before summary judgment motions are filed to conserve resources and narrow
the issues that require briefing.
(6) whether and when either party anticipates filing a dispositive motion
The parties respectfully submit that, because the U.S. Department of Justice has not yet
issued its determinations on the requests, it is premature to assess whether either party is likely to
file a dispositive motion.
The parties do not believe there are any other pertinent issues that require the Court’s
attention at this time. They propose filing a further joint status report on or before Thursday,
September 11, 2025.
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Case 1:25-cv-01056-LLA Document 8 Filed 07/07/25 Page 3 of 3
Date: July 7, 2025 Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Paul J. Orfanedes JEANINE FERRIS PIRRO
PAUL J. ORFANEDES United States Attorney
DC Bar No. 429716
Judicial Watch, Inc. By: /s/ Sam Escher
425 Third Street SW, Suite 800 SAM ESCHER, D.C. Bar #1655538
Washington, DC 20024 Assistant United States Attorney
Phone: (202) 646-5172 601 D Street, NW
Email: porfanedes@judicialwatch.org Washington, DC 20530
(202) 252-2531
Counsel for Plaintiff Sam.Escher@usdoj.gov
Attorneys for United States of America
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