DOJ Inspector General Opens Audit Of Epstein Files Redactions And Withheld Records
The public fight over Jeffrey Epstein's records began after his arrest and death focused attention on who knew what about his alleged sex-trafficking network. Congress responded by passing the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required the Justice Department to collect and post related records and to explain redactions and withholdings.
The Justice Department compiled more than 6 million pages of Epstein-related material and released over 3 million pages under the law. Many documents were heavily redacted or withheld for reasons that include survivor privacy and ongoing investigations.
Scrutiny intensified when investigators and news outlets reported problems with the release process. The department removed more than 47,000 previously posted files, about 65,500 pages, leaving roughly 2.7 million pages currently public while some links now return "page not found" errors. Department officials publicly defended the releases, saying the department complied with the law and did not protect any political figure, but those statements did not stop renewed calls from lawmakers and survivors for a watchdog review.
The Justice Department Office of Inspector General (OIG) has opened an audit to review compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The audit will examine how the department identified records for release, how officials decided which names to redact, why some materials were withheld, and how the department handled post-release publication concerns. The probe responds to pressure from members of Congress, survivors, and evolving reporting about redaction errors and removed files, and it would be overseen by the DOJ inspector general if the president's nominee for that post is confirmed.
📌 Key Facts
- The DOJ Office of Inspector General has opened an audit to evaluate DOJ compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, specifically how the department identified, redacted, released, and withheld Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell records, including post-release publication concerns and decisions about which names and materials to redact or withhold.
- The DOJ collected more than 6 million pages of Epstein-related records and ultimately released over 3 million pages under the Act, while withholding and heavily redacting a portion of the files.
- CBS reported DOJ removed more than 47,000 previously posted files (about 65,500 pages), leaving roughly 2.7 million pages currently public; the removed links now return 'page not found' errors.
- The audit follows pressure from Rep. Ro Khanna, Rep. Thomas Massie, Epstein survivors, and Democratic lawmakers — who have been pressing the inspector general since at least December 2025 to investigate possible tampering or improper withholding of records.
- Then–Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche publicly insisted DOJ complied with the law and denied protecting President Trump or anyone else, but later told Fox News the Epstein files 'should not be a part of anything going forward' at DOJ.
- President Trump has nominated career government attorney Don Berthiaume to be the next DOJ inspector general, who would oversee the OIG conducting this audit.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Wall Street Journal reports that the DOJ inspector general is reviewing how officials decided which names to redact and which materials to withhold from public release.
- Article reiterates that millions of Epstein and Maxwell records were released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, with some files withheld and others heavily redacted.
- Confirms that scrutiny of DOJ centers on redaction errors and withholding decisions tied to those releases.
- Confirms the OIG audit will specifically evaluate DOJ processes for identifying, redacting, and releasing Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell records under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
- Details that DOJ collected more than 6 million pages of Epstein-related records and ultimately released over 3 million pages while withholding a portion for reasons including survivor privacy and ongoing investigations.
- Reports that CBS found DOJ removed more than 47,000 previously posted files, about 65,500 pages, leaving roughly 2.7 million pages currently public, with removed links now returning 'page not found' errors.
- Notes that then–Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche publicly insisted DOJ complied with the law and did not protect President Trump or anyone else, while also saying public 'hunger' for information would not be satisfied.
- Adds that Blanche, now acting attorney general, later told Fox News the Epstein files 'should not be a part of anything going forward' at DOJ.
- States that President Trump has nominated career government attorney Don Berthiaume to be the next DOJ inspector general, who would oversee the OIG conducting this audit.
- Specifies that the OIG will also examine DOJ processes for handling 'post-release publication concerns' tied to the Epstein documents.
- Recaps that Rep. Ro Khanna, Rep. Thomas Massie, Epstein survivors, and Democratic lawmakers have been pressing the inspector general since at least December 2025 to investigate possible tampering or improper withholding of records.