U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wednesday, U.S. Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) called for an independent audit and report to Congress about the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) practices in redacting information of the public release of the Epstein Files.

Multiple reports have spotlighted the DOJ’s failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act’s clear requirement to redact only information that protects victims’ privacy and national security and the law’s prohibition on redactions based on reputational harm or political sensitivity. Following these revelations, the Senators tasked the Government Accountability Office (GAO)—a nonpartisan, independent agency and part of the legislative branch—to conduct the audit and report to Congress on the DOJ and Executive Branch’s redaction process and decisions. 

The Senators write, “As Congress continues to seek justice for the victims of Epstein and his co-conspirators, GAO can offer an independent inquiry into the processes undertaken by DOJ in redacting and releasing these files—assessing DOJ’s due diligence and whether the release of these files has served to cover up child sexual abuse.”

“This horrific scandal is one where powerful, wealthy men groomed, abused, and raped young women, men, and children. It is critical to understand what led to DOJ’s failure to redact the victims’ information and re-victimize those individuals while violating the Epstein Files Transparency Act in its redactions of information related to their alleged abusers. We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter,” they concluded. 

The Epstein Files Transparency Act—which was led by Luján, Merkley, and Murkowski in the Senate—was signed into law by President Trump late last year.

Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here.