Senators demand DOJ audit after missed Epstein files release deadline

WASHINGTON, DC: A bipartisan group of US senators on Wednesday, December 24, called for an audit of the Department of Justice, accusing the agency of failing to meet statutory deadlines for releasing records related to Jeffrey Epstein.

The request was led by Sens Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut; Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska; and Jeff Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon.

In a letter sent to Acting DOJ Inspector General Don Berthiaume, the 12 lawmakers said that the department did not comply with the December 19 deadline established under the 'Epstein Files Transparency Act'.

They argued that the DOJ released only a limited portion of the required documents and applied extensive redactions to others.

DOJ accused of 'historic hostility' to transparency

In their letter, the senators said that an independent review was necessary to assess whether the DOJ had properly followed the law.

"Given the Administration’s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance… is essential," the lawmakers wrote.

They further alleged that the department had withheld records and included documents that were already publicly available, raising concerns about how redaction standards were applied.

The senators said that these issues warranted an internal audit by the inspector general’s office.

Lawmakers criticize DOJ's rolling release of Epstein files

The letter followed statements from the DOJ acknowledging that the full release of Epstein-related records could take additional time.

Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Wednesday that the department identified more than one million additional documents requiring review.

They said that the materials would be released on a "rolling basis," citing the need to protect sensitive information and comply with federal law.

The explanation prompted criticism from some lawmakers, including Reps Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky; and Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California.

Massie said on X that the release did not meet the requirements of the new law, while both lawmakers warned of potential contempt proceedings if compliance is not achieved.

Trump's travel logs and DOJ defense

The latest batch of released documents includes references to President Donald Trump, including emails that mention his name in connection with Epstein’s travel records from the 1990s.

Trump has repeatedly denied any involvement in Epstein’s criminal conduct and has said that he severed ties with the financier years before his first prosecution.

Following the document release, the DOJ posted a statement on its official X account noting that some materials include "untrue and sensationalist" claims made against President Trump.

Chuck Schumer threatens to sue for full release

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, said on Monday that he plans to pursue a vote to authorize legal action against the DOJ.

Schumer said that the goal would be to compel a full and unredacted release of Epstein-related records.

The senators’ request comes as Don Berthiaume, a Trump appointee, now serves as acting inspector general following the departure of longtime DOJ watchdog Michael Horowitz.

Lawmakers claimed that an audit would help determine whether the department’s handling of the records aligned with congressional intent and statutory requirements.

The DOJ has not publicly responded to the senators’ request for an audit.