The custody battle between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt is only getting uglier.
Jolie is now accusing her estranged husband of ‘publicly impugning’ her character in new court documents that claim Pitt is ‘terrified the public will learn the truth’.
The allegations came as Jolie approved of Pitt’s request that their children’s records be legally sealed.
Pitt, 53, and his legal team asked a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to seal all records relating to their six children, claiming their accessibility is a violation of privacy, on Wednesday.
Jolie, 41, agreed with his motives but accused Pitt of using court filings to deflect from his ‘own role in the media storm that has engulfed’ their children .
Angelina Jolie is now accusing her estranged husband of ‘publicly impugning’ her character in new court documents that claim Pitt is ‘terrified the public will learn the truth’
Jolie, 41, accused Pitt of using court filings to deflect from his ‘own role in the media storm that has engulfed’ their children in new documents filed by her attorney Laura Wasser this week
Jolie’s team accused Pitt of superfluous court filings that ‘could have been avoided’ but are instead a ‘desperate effort to obscure the truth which threatens his reputation’
‘There is no question that this case has been of extraordinary interest to the public since its inception,’ read the papers, filed by Jolie’s attorney Laura Wasser.
‘And there is little doubt that (Pitt) would prefer to keep the entire case private, particularly given the detailed investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Children and Family Services into allegations of abuse.’
Wasser then goes on to claim that Jolie has not addressed ‘each and every false allegation made by (Pitt)’ in an effort to protect their children ‘from additional tabloid fodder’.
‘Her conduct in this case has been grossly mischaracterized by (Pitt)’, the statement continues.
‘Likely terrified that the public will learn the truth, (Pitt) is now casting blame at (Jolie) for the consequences of his own actions.’
Jolie’s legal team then accuses Pitt of superfluous court filings that ‘could have been avoided’ and protected his children’s privacy, but are instead a ‘desperate effort to obscure the truth which threatens his reputation’.
The papers also claim that Pitt has refused to follow the couple’s agreement that he will currently only have weekly therapeutic visits with his children.
Since October 2016, therapists have been present during each of Pitt’s visits with his children Maddox, 15, Pax, 13, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and eight-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.
The papers also claim that Pitt has refused to follow the couple’s agreement that he will currently only have weekly therapeutic visits with his children
Since October 2016, therapists have been present during each of Pitt’s visits with his children Maddox, 15, Pax, 13, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and eight-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne
The allegations have come to light as Jolie approved of Pitt’s request that their children’s records be legally sealed (pictured)
Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt a week after the family took a flight from France to California in which the actor allegedly got in a fight with his son Maddox
The frequency and duration of these visits are being decided by the children’s therapists, which the papers state were put in place by Jolie and Pitt after the infamous incident on a flight from Europe to California in September 2016.
Pitt and his family allegedly got into an argument aboard a private plane in September, causing an anonymous source to call the DCFS.
Pitt was exonerated in November by officials with the FBI and LA DCFS amid accusations he was physically abusive to Maddox during the flight from France.
Although further weekly therapeutic visits have been scheduled through the end of January, Jolie’s team claims Pitt has made repeated requests for more.
The papers state that Pitt’s legal team began requesting increased visitation in a non-therapeutic setting which ‘was not recommended by the children’s therapists and not agreed upon in the prior custody stipulation agreement’.
It states that it is up to the therapists to decide, based on each child’s ‘individual feelings and progress’, when and how Pitt’s visits can increase.
Aside from news of the documents, sources tell People magazine that Angelina’s lawyers insist Pitt’s accusations of her leaking information were only announced due to his fear of private information surfacing in the divorce proceedings.
Pitt was exonerated in November by officials with the FBI and LA DCFS amid accusations he was physically abusive to Maddox during the flight from France
A source claims Maddox and Pax had ‘no interest in seeing their dad’ amid the ongoing strife
An insider said the children were at odds as some of the girls are ‘accusing their older brothers of being responsible for their father’
‘Yesterday’s filing makes no sense legally,’ the source told DailyMail at the time.
‘Everyone was surprised that he filed with the court because he already filed with the court before. Besides, Angelina had already signed an agreement to seal the court file. It protects the children and it also protects information about Brad.’
‘All parties have already agreed and signed. The accusation that she is not protecting the privacy of her children is clearly false.’
‘If Angelina wanted to detail what happened on the plane, she could have. Nothing has been released and Angelina has kept silent.’
Meanwhile, Pitt’s lawyers are claiming that Jolie made public the names of her children’s therapists and other mental health professionals.
It’s the first time since Jolie’s September 19 divorce filing in Los Angeles that Pitt has gone on the offensive against his estranged wife.
Jolie – who currently retains temporary physical custody of the children – remains undaunted in her attempts to get sole custody of the kids
At the time of the parting, Pitt said that ‘what matters most now is the well-being of’ their six children, adding: ‘I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time.’
The ongoing strife has caused tension in the household amid the holiday season, according to an In Touch Weekly report, as an insider said that the children were at odds because Maddox and Pax had ‘no interest in seeing their dad’ amid the tough time.
‘Some of the girls are accusing their older brother of being responsible for their not seeing Brad either,’ the source said, while another insider told the publication that some of the kids ‘can’t understand why they’re being kept away’ from Pitt.
Pitt and Jolie – whose romance is believed to have begun during filming of Mr & Mrs Smith, while he was still married to Jennifer Aniston, in 2005 – are due back in court next month for a hearing in the ongoing case.
The actor is requesting to share joint physical and legal custody of the six kids with Jolie, who wants sole physical custody with Pitt receiving scheduled visits.
Jolie – who currently retains temporary physical custody of the children – remains undaunted in her attempts to get sole custody of the kids.
Meanwhile, Pitt’s lawyers are claiming that Jolie made public the names of her children’s therapists and other mental health professionals