Published April 23, 2026
The U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) internal watchdog will investigate whether the federal government complied with laws requiring the release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s file.
The Office of the Inspector General, which operates independently of the department, said Thursday that the investigation focuses on the Epstein File Transparency Act, passed in November.
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“Our primary objective is to evaluate the process by which the Department of Justice identifies, compiles, and releases records held by the Department of Justice, as required by law,” the department said in a statement.
The Epstein File Transparency Act required the release of all unclassified records related to Epstein held by the Justice Department.
These files also needed to be easily downloadable and searchable, and edits were limited to those necessary to protect victims and sensitive information. The law provided that the Department of Justice had 30 days to comply.
“No records shall be withheld, delayed, or redacted for reasons of embarrassment, defamation, or political sensitivity, including for government officials, public figures, or foreign dignitaries,” the law states.
But critics question whether President Donald Trump’s administration fully complied with the law.
Under the Trump administration, the Justice Department released information in several installments, the most important of which was a 3.5 million-page catalog released on January 30th.
But this was well after the law’s 30-day deadline to go into effect, and critics have questioned why certain information was included or left out.
For example, lawmakers have accused the Trump administration of heavy redactions to protect the identities of powerful people named in the files.
Victims of Epstein’s abuse also expressed anger at the way the files were handled, saying their personal information had been exposed.
Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting federal indictment, is accused of running a multi-year cross-border sex trafficking scheme with potentially hundreds of victims.
A wealthy financier, Epstein moved among society’s most powerful circles, maintaining relationships with politicians, academics, business leaders, and artists.
His connections included two US presidents, Trump and Bill Clinton, as well as former British prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of his royal titles last year in the wake of the Epstein scandal.
Mr. Epstein’s high profile in society has sparked an investigation into who was involved in the sexual abuse scheme and whether Mr. Epstein escaped responsibility.
Epstein was convicted in 2008 of state-level crimes, including soliciting children for prostitution, but critics decried the case as a sweetheart deal, and he served only 13 months of an 18-month sentence.
Since assuming his second term as president in 2025, Trump has come under intense scrutiny for his personal relationships with sex offenders.
The administration has also faced backlash for its mixed messages about the Epstein file.
For example, in February 2025, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News that a list of Epstein’s clients “is sitting on (her) desk right now,” only to deny the existence of such a list later that year.
Trump himself has denounced the Epstein scandal as a “hoax” aimed at damaging his reputation and called Republican lawmakers who have called for the files to be released “stupid people.”
However, in November, amid mounting public pressure, President Trump ultimately supported passage of the Epstein File Transparency Act and signed it into law.
Still, polls suggest widespread disapproval of President Trump’s handling of the files.
A February poll by research firm YouGov found that 53% of respondents believed Trump was trying to cover up Epstein’s crimes, and 50% said they believed Trump was personally involved in Epstein’s crimes.
There could also be legal consequences if the administration is found not to have complied with the Epstein File Transparency Act.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, one of the bill’s sponsors, recently warned interim Attorney General Todd Blanche that he must fulfill the bill’s responsibilities within a month.
“Congratulations, AG Blanche,” Massey said in a social media post. “You have 30 days to release the remaining files before you face criminal charges for failure to comply with the Epstein File Transparency Act.”
