DoJ inspector general to audit department’s compliance with Epstein Files Transparency Act

Mandated release of files was marred by missed deadlines, leaked victims’ information and excessive redactions

• https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/apr/23/donald-trump-shutdown-ice-border-patrol-dhs-iran-democrats-republicans-latest-news-updates">US politics live – latest updates

The US Department of Justice’s office of the inspector general (OIG) announced on Thursday that it is launching an audit of the justice department’s compliance with the https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/jeffrey-epstein">Epstein Files Transparency Act.

In a https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/4-23-2026.pdf">news release, the deputy inspector general William M Blier, who the statement said is performing the duties of the inspector general, said that the “preliminary objective” of the internal probe “is to evaluate the [justice department’s] processes for identifying, redacting, and releasing records in its possession as required by the Act”.