The US Department of Justice's inspector general is launching an investigation into how the agency is handling the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. This comes as lawmakers criticize the department's compliance with a law mandating the release of these documents.
The internal watchdog will examine the "identification, collection, and production of responsive material" concerning Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. The probe will also scrutinize the processes for redacting and withholding information.
Signed into law in November 2025, the Epstein Files Transparency Act requires the justice department to release all related files within 30 days. While the department claims over three million files have been made public, some were later removed due to privacy concerns, leaving approximately 2.7 million available.
Frustration persists, with accusations that the department is attempting to shield powerful individuals. The department denies these claims. Recently released summaries of interviews with a woman who made unsubstantiated sexual assault claims against Donald Trump, documents the agency admitted were accidentally withheld, have fueled further scrutiny.
Congressmen Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, key proponents of the Epstein law, have been pushing for this independent review. Massie previously expressed anger over the lack of prosecutions. Separately, Trump fired Pam Bondi, who had been overseeing the justice department, partly due to her handling of the Epstein files, and replaced her with Todd Blanche.
Survivors of Epstein's abuse are also calling for accountability. Annie Farmer, an outspoken survivor, criticized a report suggesting potential pardons for Ghislaine Maxwell in exchange for cooperation, deeming it "profoundly insulting and a deep betrayal."