DoJ inspector general to audit department’s compliance with Epstein Files Transparency Act | Jeffrey Epstein
The U.S. Department of Justice’s office of inspector general (OIG) announced Thursday that it has launched an audit into the justice department’s compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
One newsletterIn the statement, deputy inspector general William M Blier, who is said to be performing the duties of the inspector general, said the “preliminary purpose” of the internal investigation was ” [justice department’s] “Processes regarding the identification, arrangement and publication of the records held as required by law”.
The review will look at the justice ministry’s “identification, collection and production of necessary materials” as well as “guidance and processes for redacting and preserving materials consistent with the requirements listed in the law” and “processes to address post-publication concerns”.
“If circumstances warrant, OIG will consider addressing other issues that may arise during the audit,” the statement said.
The justice department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Epstein Files Transparency ActThe law, passed by Congress last year and signed into law last November, mandates the preservation of records identifying victims, child sexual abuse images and the release of all justice department files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, except those related to ongoing investigations or linked to national security.
The justice ministry has faced criticism in recent months over the extent to which it complies with the law. The justice ministry did not meet the law’s December 19 deadline for releasing the relevant files and only released what it claimed were complete files on January 31.
Many Epstein victims have also complained that their sensitive personal information was improperly disclosed in the files, and some lawmakers have also expressed concern about the extent of redactions in the documents.
The Justice Department maintained that it complied with the law.
Last month, the House oversight and government reform committee subpoenaed former attorney general Pam Bondi; he was still serving as head of the justice ministry. The panel requested that he appear to answer questions about the department’s handling of its investigation into Epstein and its “compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.”
But earlier this month, Donald Trump removed Bondi from his position, and a few days later a House committee announced that it had been told by the justice department that Bondi would not attend the scheduled deposition.
Deputy attorney general Patrick Davis argued in a letter to committee chairman James Comer that the subpoena was no longer valid because “the committee issued the subpoena to Ms. Bondi in her official capacity as attorney general.”
“Ms. Bondi no longer holds this position,” the letter reads. “As a result, since Ms. Bondi can no longer testify in her official capacity as attorney general, it is the department’s position that the subpoena will no longer obligate her to appear in court on April 14.”
The letter added: “We ask that you confirm that the subpoena has been withdrawn.”
As of April 8, the committee’s subpoena had not been withdrawn, according to a person familiar with the matter.
