US government watchdog to investigate Epstein files release

The inspector general at the US Department of Justice (DoJ) is opening an investigation into whether the agency is complying with a law passed by Congress forcing the release of files related to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein.

The announcement by the DoJ's internal watchdog comes amid criticism from lawmakers over how the files were released, and millions of other files that have not been made public.

The statement on Thursday said the watchdog would examine the "identification, collection, and production of responsive material" related to Epstein.

It added that "if circumstances warrant," the agency "will consider addressing other issues that may arise during the course of the audit".

It will also examine "guidance and processes for redacting and withholding material consistent with the requirements" in the law.

In November 2025, President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, after initially trying to sway lawmakers to vote against it.

The law requires the justice department to release all files related to Epstein and his jailed co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell within 30 days.

The agency, which has released files in intermittent batches since then, has said it has made over three million files public through its online database.

Some files were later taken offline due to privacy complaints from survivors, leaving roughly 2.7m still publicly available, according to an analysis by CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

In January, a top justice official said that there are some six million files in the government's collection, but that some files would remain private because they contain survivors' personal information or are related to open cases.

Frustration has grown since then with some accusing the justice department of trying to protect powerful people and potential Epstein conspirators, a claim the department has denied.

Last month, the DOJ released summaries of interviews with a woman who made unsubstantiated claims of sexual assault against Trump. The agency said that the documents had been accidentally withheld. Trump, who is mentioned thousands of times in the files including in emails and correspondence sent by Epstein himself to others, has denied any wrongdoing.

Two congressmen who played a prominent role in pushing for the Epstein law - Democrat Ro Khanna and Republican Thomas Massie - had been pushing for the inspector general's independent review.

Last month, Massie told the BBC that he was angry about the lack of accountability from the justice department.

"Men need to be perp-walked in handcuffs to the jail, and until we see that here in this country... we don't have a system of justice that's working," he told the BBC Newsnight programme.