Epstein files: Senators call for audit into DOJ's release

A bipartisan radical of Senators connected Wednesday called for an audit into the Department of Justice's handling of the files related to the disgraced enactment offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In a letter to DOJ Acting Inspector General Dan Berthiaume, a radical of 12 senators said the DOJ had violated a instrumentality -- dubbed the Epstein Files Transparency Act -- that passed Congress and was signed by President Donald Trump successful November. The instrumentality mandated a afloat merchandise of the Epstein files with minimal redactions by Dec. 19.

The lawmakers -- led by Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. -- said the DOJ has withheld files, released documents already publically disposable and redacted definite releases to the grade that "there are superior questions arsenic to whether the Department is decently applying the constricted exceptions for redaction that are permitted nether the Act."

"Given the Administration's historical hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein lawsuit much broadly, and nonaccomplishment to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral appraisal of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential," the radical wrote.

Inspectors wide are autarkic watchdogs that behaviour audits and investigations of national agencies. The DOJ inspector wide is "ideally placed" to behaviour an audit due to the fact that helium has afloat entree to the files, the lawmakers wrote.

At the opening of his 2nd term, Trump fired much than a twelve inspectors wide crossed the national authorities but spared longtime DOJ watchdog Michael Horowitz, who had been successful the relation since 2012. Horowitz left the post successful June to instrumentality connected the aforesaid relation astatine the Federal Reserve.

Trump tapped Berthiaume to go the DOJ's interior watchdog successful October.

The DOJ has released 2 large batches of Epstein files since Dec. 19, but the dilatory trickle of documents has angered lawmakers connected some sides of the aisle.

In a missive to Congress connected Friday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers the DOJ would merchandise the files connected a "rolling basis" done the extremity of the year, defying the law's requirement. In a post to X connected Wednesday, the DOJ updated that estimate. adding that implicit a cardinal much documents perchance related to Epstein had been discovered by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the FBI.

"Due to the wide measurement of material, this process whitethorn instrumentality a fewer much weeks," the station states.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said connected Monday that helium would unit the Senate to ballot on suing the DOJ for the afloat merchandise of files. And Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., person threatened to clasp Attorney General Pam Bondi and Blanche successful inherent contempt.

"The survivors merit justice. The DOJ merchandise does not comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act and does not supply what the survivors are guaranteed nether the caller law," Massie said successful a post to X connected Monday.

Trump, a erstwhile person of Epstein's, was mostly absent from the DOJ's archetypal merchandise of documents past Friday.

The latest batch of files, released Tuesday, see galore references to Trump, including an email that suggests Trump traveled often connected Epstein's backstage level successful the 1990s.

Trump has denied immoderate wrongdoing associated with the disgraced New York financier. On Tuesday, the DOJ said successful a post connected X that "some of these documents incorporate untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI close earlier the 2020 election."

During his 2024 statesmanlike campaign, Trump suggested helium was unfastened to declassifying immoderate Epstein files, but has fought for overmuch of this twelvemonth to support them nether wraps. He has referred to the uproar implicit the Epstein files arsenic a "hoax" and pressured immoderate House Republican to driblet their enactment for the authorities that would yet compel their release.

As the Epstein Files Transparency Act seemed poised to beforehand retired of Congress, Trump belatedly gave his blessing to the effort.

"Full transparency—as called for bravely and repeatedly by survivors—is indispensable successful identifying members of our nine who enabled and participated successful Epstein's crimes. Survivors merit afloat disclosure," the lawmakers wrote.

Murkowski was the lone Republican to motion the letter, though the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed some chambers with wide bipartisan support.