Court Orders Department of Justice to Release Hidden Epstein Records
法院命令司法部公開被隱藏的 Epstein 紀錄
Introduction
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan has ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release specific unedited documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. The DOJ must either provide these files or give a formal legal reason for keeping them secret by July 2.
美國地方法院法官 Emmet Sullivan 已命令司法部 (DOJ) 公開特定的 Jeffrey Epstein 未經編輯文件。司法部必須在 7 月 2 日前提供這些文件，或提供正式的法律理由說明為何維持秘密。
Main Body
This court order follows a lawsuit started in April by journalist Katie Phang. She claimed that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche did not follow the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Judge Sullivan decided that standard freedom of information requests were not enough to solve the problem and noted that the DOJ had not properly answered the legal arguments. Consequently, the court ordered the DOJ to provide a detailed list of all edited information, eight emails with hidden names, a 2007 draft document containing the identities of co-conspirators, and FBI notes regarding allegations against Donald Trump.
這項法院命令源於記者 Katie Phang 在 4 月提起的一場訴訟。她聲稱 Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche 未遵守《Epstein 文件透明度法案》。Sullivan 法官認定，標準的資訊自由請求不足以解決問題，並指出司法部未能妥善回應法律論點。因此，法院命令司法部提供一份所有編輯資訊的詳細清單、八封隱藏姓名的電子郵件、一份包含共謀者身份的 2007 年草擬文件，以及關於川普被指控的 FBI 筆記。
There is still a lot of disagreement regarding how much information should be shared. While the DOJ has released millions of pages, it claims that about half of the records are still hidden to protect victims or because of legal privilege. However, lawyers for over 200 survivors have argued that these protections are not working, as some private information is still visible. Furthermore, the government has been criticized for failing to publish the required list of edited records by the December 2025 deadline.
關於應分享多少資訊，目前仍存在很大分歧。雖然司法部已公開數百萬頁文件，但其聲稱約有一半紀錄仍被隱藏，以保護受害者或基於法律特權。然而，超過 200 名倖存者的律師則認為這些保護措施並未奏效，因為部分私人資訊依然可見。此外，政府因未能於 2025 年 12 月截止日期前公布所需的編輯紀錄清單而受到批評。
In addition to government files, there is a debate about private non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) used to protect Epstein's associates. Members of the House Oversight Committee are considering using legal orders to force people to testify about secret settlements. This suggests that much of the important information may be held by private individuals rather than the government, which makes the search for the full truth more difficult.
除了政府文件外，關於用於保護 Epstein 關係人的私人保密協議 (NDA) 亦存在爭議。眾議院監督委員會成員正考慮使用法律命令，強迫相關人士就秘密和解協議作證。這表明許多重要資訊可能由私人持有而非政府，這使得尋找完整真相的過程更加困難。
Conclusion
The Department of Justice has stated that it plans to appeal the decision, but the court still requires them to comply or provide a justification by July 2.
司法部表示計劃對此決定提出上訴，但法院仍要求其在 7 月 2 日前遵守命令或提供正當理由。
Vocabulary Learning
🚀 The 'Sophistication Shift': From Simple to Professional
At the A2 level, you say things are "bad," "big," or "stopped." To hit B2, you need precise verbs and connecting words that show a logical relationship between ideas. This article is a goldmine for this transition.
⚡ The Power-Up: Precise Verbs
Stop using generic words. Look at how the text upgrades basic actions into 'Professional English':
- Instead of "told to" Use "Ordered"
- A2: The judge told the DOJ to give the files.
- B2: The judge ordered the DOJ to release the documents.
- Instead of "said" Use "Claimed" or "Argued"
- A2: She said he didn't follow the law.
- B2: She claimed that he did not follow the Act.
- Instead of "do/follow" Use "Comply"
- A2: They must do what the judge says.
- B2: The court requires them to comply.
🧩 The Logic Glue: Advanced Connectors
B2 students don't just use and, but, and because. They use words that signal a specific direction of thought. Let's analyze the 'Glue' used here:
1. The Result Trigger: "Consequently" When you want to show that Action A caused Action B, avoid starting every sentence with "So." Use Consequently to sound more academic.
Example: The DOJ did not answer the arguments Consequently, the court ordered the list.
2. The Contrast Builder: "While" Instead of two short sentences with "but," use While to balance two opposite facts in one sentence.
Example: While the DOJ has released millions of pages, it claims half are still hidden.
3. The Addition Tool: "Furthermore" When you have a second, stronger reason to support your point, use Furthermore instead of "also."
Example: Protections are not working; furthermore, the government failed the deadline.
💡 Quick B2 Strategy
To move from A2 to B2, stop writing many short sentences. Try to combine them using While, Consequently, and Furthermore. This creates the "flow" that examiners look for at the Upper-Intermediate level.