12 Bipartisan Senators Demand Inspector General Audit of DOJ Epstein Files Compliance

Twelve bipartisan senators write to DOJ Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume demanding an audit of the Department’s compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The letter is led by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), with additional signatures from Senators Klobuchar, Schiff, Durbin, Booker, Kim, Peters, Van Hollen, Hirono, and Whitehouse.

The letter states: “Given the Administration’s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential.”

The senators note that “not only has DOJ withheld files, but those records that were disclosed are largely information that was already public.” Senate Minority Leader Schumer separately states: “A Christmas Eve news dump of ‘a million more files’ only proves what we already know: Trump is engaged in a massive coverup.”

The inclusion of Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski demonstrates this is not partisan politics but genuine concern about DOJ lawbreaking. The invocation of “historic hostility” and “politicization” in an official Senate letter is extraordinary language suggesting senators believe political protection of elites, potentially including the President, is driving the obstruction.