Actress Angelina Jolie has officially withdrawn her lawsuit against the Department of Justice and the FBI concerning the 2016 plane incident involving her ex-husband, Brad Pitt.
The news, confirmed by E! News, brings to a close a contentious legal battle for the Oscar-winning actress. According to court documents obtained by E! News, the dismissal was made with prejudice, meaning the case cannot be refiled.
The agreement stipulates that both parties will bear their own legal fees and costs.
Jolie initially filed the lawsuit in April 2022 under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), appearing in court as the anonymous “Jane Doe.” She sought access to documents related to an alleged domestic violence incident aboard a private jet.
Jolie claimed that during the flight, Pitt “allegedly physically and verbally assaulted” her and their children, causing “lasting physical and mental trauma.” These allegations align with an FBI report that followed the flight from Europe to Los Angeles on September 14, 2016.
According to E! News, it was previously reported that Pitt was accused of attacking Jolie and their son, Maddox, during the flight. Despite the severity of the accusations, federal authorities chose not to press charges against Pitt, who has consistently denied the allegations.
In her FOIA lawsuit, Jolie argued that access to the FBI documents was essential for her children’s medical care and trauma counseling. She also sought to have the case sealed, though that request was denied by a judge.
Jolie filed for divorce shortly after the plane incident, on September 19, 2016, listing the day after the flight as the date of their separation. While the couple was declared legally single in 2019, their legal battles have persisted, particularly regarding the former joint ownership of Chateau Miraval, a vineyard and winery in France.
Recently, Pitt’s legal team accused Jolie of engaging in a “sensationalist fishing expedition” after she requested communications from Pitt related to the 2016 incident. In response, Jolie’s attorney emphasised her desire for resolution, stating, “While Angelina again asks Mr. Pitt to end the fighting and finally put their family on a clear path toward healing, unless Mr. Pitt withdraws his lawsuit, Angelina has no choice but to obtain the evidence necessary to prove his allegations wrong.”
