DOJ Inspector General to Audit Epstein Files Release

The U.S. Department of Justice's internal watchdog announced Thursday that it will audit the department's compliance with a law mandating the release of investigative files related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, amid ongoing concerns over delays, redactions and the exposure of victims' personal information.

The Office of the Inspector General, which operates independently within the Justice Department, stated that the review will examine the processes used to identify, redact and release records as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Inspector General William Blier's office plans to issue a public report upon completion of the audit, which also will assess how the department addressed privacy issues that emerged after the files became public.

Congress passed the bipartisan legislation in November and President Donald Trump signed it into law, requiring the Justice Department to disclose nearly all documents, photos, videos and other materials from investigations into Epstein's sex trafficking activities and those of his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The act allowed limited redactions to protect victims' identities, ongoing litigation, national security and...