The Trump administration wants more time to publish more of the Epstein files because it “needs to protect” the victims it has spent months publicly outing.

“The Court should not order the [Justice] Department to take further action,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote in a filing late Thursday night. He was responding to a D.C. lawsuit over the DOJ’s handling of the scandal.

Blanche asked that if the judge demands a fresh release, “the Court grant a stay of sixty days” so that the department can consider an appeal, or seven days “at a minimum” so it can weigh filing for emergency review. He says he wants to shield “victims, law enforcement personnel, and the Department’s resources.” … Phang’s suit argues that Blanche’s refusal is illegal in several respects. Among other things, she notes the department has redacted the identities of recipients and senders on an email thread in which Epstein discussed a “torture video” and having sex with underage girls.

District Judge Emmet Sullivan, a George W. Bush appointee, is presiding over the lawsuit. He ordered Blanche last Thursday to either produce the unredacted material Phang has requested or explain exactly why Blanche believes he’s allowed to withhold it.