Senators Demand Accountability from Justice Department on Epstein Files

Mon Feb 02 2026 18:53:11 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A coalition of twelve U.S. senators is pushing for the Justice Department's inspector general to investigate the delayed release of Jeffrey Epstein's records, emphasizing the need for transparency for the victims.

Twelve U.S. senators, including Lisa Murkowski and several Democrats, are calling for an inspector general audit of the Justice Department's handling of Jeffrey Epstein's records. They argue that the timely release of these documents is crucial for ensuring victims are informed and protected. Despite Congress mandating a deadline for disclosure, the department has only released documents on an ad-hoc basis, often redacted and lacking context. This call for increased transparency arises amidst concerns of a cover-up and the politicization of the Epstein case.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A dozen U.S. senators are calling on the Justice Department’s watchdog to examine the department’s failure to release all records pertaining to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by last Friday’s congressionally mandated deadline, saying victims “deserve full disclosure” and the “peace of mind” of an independent audit.

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined 11 Democrats in signing a letter Wednesday urging Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume to audit the Justice Department’s compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law enacted last month that requires the government to open its files on Epstein and his longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell.

“Given the (Trump) 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. Full transparency, they said, “is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein’s crimes.”

Murkowski and Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., led the letter writing group. Others included Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Adam Schiff of California, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, both of New Jersey, Gary Peters of Michigan, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.

Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, a co-sponsor of the transparency act, posted Wednesday on X: “DOJ did break the law by making illegal redactions and by missing the deadline.”

Despite the deadline, the Justice Department has stated that it plans to release records on a rolling basis, attributing delays to the need to obscure survivors’ names and other identifying information. More batches of records were posted over the weekend and on Tuesday, although no timeline has been given for future releases.

“The same individuals that are out there complaining about the lack of documents that were produced on Friday are the same individuals who apparently don’t want us to protect victims,” stated Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

The released records, which include photographs, transcripts, court records, and interviews, have raised concerns due to their heavily blacked-out content and lack of context. Recent documents reveal the extent of Epstein's network, with communications that hint at involvement from high-profile individuals.

In a related move, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has introduced a resolution that would empower the Senate to pursue legal action against the Justice Department for failing to meet compliance and disclosure deadlines.