Additional Coverage:
The Justice Department’s internal watchdog has launched an investigation into whether the agency properly managed the release of records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, amid concerns about compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Deputy Inspector General William M. Blier announced on Thursday that his office will conduct an audit examining the DOJ’s process for identifying, collecting, and producing relevant materials. The focus is on whether the department fully adhered to the requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandates the public disclosure of certain records connected to Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
This audit is centered on whether any documents covered by the law were withheld, raising fresh questions about transparency in one of the most high-profile criminal cases in recent years.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, enacted last November, responded to growing pressure on the DOJ to release more information related to Epstein, including records officials had previously said were still under review. The law compels the department to locate and disclose all responsive records to the public.
Deputy Inspector General Blier noted that if additional issues arise during the audit, they will be addressed accordingly, and a public report will be issued once the review is complete.
The DOJ did not provide a comment on the investigation when approached by Fox News Digital.
This inquiry takes place amid wider scrutiny of how the DOJ has handled Epstein-related disclosures and recent leadership changes within the department. Notably, former Attorney General Pam Bondi was dismissed earlier this month, following public dissatisfaction with the pace and scope of document releases connected to the Epstein case.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche denied any connection between Bondi’s firing and the Epstein files during an appearance on “Jesse Watters Primetime.” He stated, “I have never heard President Trump say that the attorney general was – that anything that happened to her – had anything to do with the Epstein files.”
Blanche emphasized that since the president signed the Transparency Act, the DOJ has released all files related to the Epstein saga. He also mentioned that both he and Bondi voluntarily appeared before Congress recently to answer any questions, and that every member of Congress has been given access to view documents, whether redacted or unredacted.