BLUMENTHAL, MURKOWSKI & MERKLEY LEAD CALL FOR INSPECTOR GENERAL AUDIT FOLLOWING DOJ’S FAILURE TO RELEASE THE FULL EPSTEIN FILES AS DEMANDED BY SURVIVORS, REQUIRED BY LAW

WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) led a bipartisan group of senators in writing Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume requesting the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) perform an audit of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation requiring the release of all records and documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein.

"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 with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential," the senators wrote. "As such, we request that the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General ("DOJ OIG") perform an audit of the Department's compliance with the statute."

In addition to Blumenthal, Murkowski, and Merkley, today's letter was signed by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Gary Peters (D-MI).

"Full transparency-as called for bravely and repeatedly by survivors-is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein's crimes," the senators concluded. "Survivors deserve full disclosure. They also deserve the peace of mind that would be afforded by an independent audit of the Department's compliance."

The full text of today's letter is available here and copied below.

Dear Acting Inspector General Berthiaume:

We write to you following the December 19 deadline imposed by the Epstein Files Transparency Act for the Department of Justice ("DOJ" or "the Department") to release all records and documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein. By the Department's own admission, it is in violation of the law-before DOJ had even begun to release the files, Deputy Attorney General Blanche admitted that it would not disclose them all by the December 19 deadline. And DOJ has lived up to that promise, failing to fully disclose the files in violation of the Act.

Not only has DOJ withheld files, but those records that were disclosed are largely information that was already public. Even those records are so heavily redacted that there are serious questions as to whether the Department is properly applying the limited exceptions for redaction that are permitted under the Act. Moreover, several records appear to have been removed, without explanation, from the files the Department did release.

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 with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential. As such, we request that the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General ("DOJ OIG") perform an audit of the Department's compliance with the statute.

In passing the Epstein Files Transparency Act with overwhelming margins in both the House and the Senate, Congress demonstrated a clear, bipartisan mandate for public transparency in the Epstein case. The legislation expressly enumerates the limited circumstances in which withholding or redaction is permitted. Any withholding or redaction beyond those specified circumstances is against the law. But because Congress and the public do not have complete access to the Epstein documents, we are not able to fully assess for ourselves whether records were inappropriately withheld or redacted. DOJ OIG-with access to the full Epstein files and with independence from the larger Department-is ideally positioned to do a complete and independent assessment of the Administration's compliance with the Act.

Despite calls from Epstein survivors for complete release of the documents, this Administration has shown consistent hostility towards transparency and a perceived willingness to weaponize the case for political ends. In February, Attorney General ("A.G.") Bondi gave binders of supposedly newly declassified Epstein files-not to survivors, but to reported "right-wing influencers." She also claimed that Epstein's so-called "client list" was "sitting on [her] desk right now to review." Yet, in July, DOJ and FBI released an unsigned memo directly contradicting her, and claiming it had found no evidence of Epstein having kept a client list. In August, Ghislaine Maxwell was moved to a lower security prison after two days of meetings with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. In November, President Trump expressly and publicly urged A.G. Bondi to investigate prominent Democrats and banks connected to Epstein. Just days later, A.G. Bondi announced she would follow the President's command. These actions, including inconsistent public statements about the contents of the files, have raised fundamental questions about the Department's willingness to faithfully and impartially comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. These questions have only grown in volume since the incomplete release of files on December 19.

Given DOJ OIG's ability to access the full set of Epstein files and its independence from the Department, it is ideally placed to perform an audit to ensure the Department's compliance with the law. Such an audit is essential not only to ensure the Department has acted as the law requires, but also to maintain the public's trust in the disclosure of the files and in the Department's handling of the case. Specifically, DOJ OIG should ensure that: (1) redactions were properly applied to protect all survivors; (2) redactions were not used to shield abusers, perpetrators, or enablers; (3) records were not withheld for any reason other than those enumerated in the statute; (4) all withholding of records was appropriate under the statute and narrowly tailored; and (5) the Department did not consider politics in deciding whether or how to release documents.

We appreciate your attention to this important request. Full transparency-as called for bravely and repeatedly by survivors-is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein's crimes. Survivors deserve full disclosure. They also deserve the peace of mind that would be afforded by an independent audit of the Department's compliance.

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