Justice Department watchdog opens audit of DOJ compliance with Epstein files release law

Thursday, April 23, 2026U.S. PoliticsWell-covered5 frames

The Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General has opened an audit or investigation into DOJ’s handling of the release of Epstein-related files.
The review is focused on DOJ’s compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law passed in November that required the department to release records related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Inspectors said they will examine DOJ’s processes for identifying, collecting, redacting and releasing responsive records.
The department has released millions of pages or files related to the matter, with several reports putting the total at more than or nearly three million.
The audit comes after criticism of the release process, including allegations that some required records were not published and that redactions were handled inconsistently or improperly.
Privacy concerns are part of the fallout from the release, with reports that some files were taken offline or that victims’ identifying information was not fully protected in some instances.
One unresolved issue is whether DOJ fully met the law’s requirements; lawmakers and critics say the rollout was incomplete or late, while DOJ officials have said they complied with the law.

The Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General has opened an audit or investigation into DOJ’s handling of the release of Epstein-related files.
The review is focused on DOJ’s compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law passed in November that required the department to release records related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Inspectors said they will examine DOJ’s processes for identifying, collecting, redacting and releasing responsive records.
The department has released millions of pages or files related to the matter, with several reports putting the total at more than or nearly three million.
The audit comes after criticism of the release process, including allegations that some required records were not published and that redactions were handled inconsistently or improperly.
Privacy concerns are part of the fallout from the release, with reports that some files were taken offline or that victims’ identifying information was not fully protected in some instances.
One unresolved issue is whether DOJ fully met the law’s requirements; lawmakers and critics say the rollout was incomplete or late, while DOJ officials have said they complied with the law.