Durbin applauds audit of Justice Department’s handling of Epstein files

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Friday applauded the announcement that the Department of Justice’s inspector general will conduct an audit of the DOJ’s handling of millions of records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“The Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein case was flawed from the start and further stoked conspiracy theories at the expense of victims,” Durbin said in a statement.

“This is a much-needed investigation into the handling and publication of the records by the Trump administration and its failure to comply with the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act,” he said.

The Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General announced this week it would audit the DOJ’s compliance with the law Congress passed last year directing the U.S. attorney general to make publicly available in searchable format all unclassified records, documents and communications related to Epstein and his longtime partner, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Democrats have said for months that the Trump administration has failed to fully comply with the law.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) announced in February that Senate Democrats had formed a special Epstein Working Group to review unredacted files related to Epstein and to ensure the full disclosure of records in the Justice Department’s possession.

“There is a massive coverup going on in the Justice Department to protect Donald Trump and people associated with Jeffrey Epstein,” Schumer said at the time.

Durbin has called for an Office of Inspector General investigation and has demanded that the Justice Department and FBI preserve all records related to the Epstein files.

Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) have also led in calling for the Justice Department’s inspector general to investigate.

“Epstein survivors have called bravely & repeatedly for full transparency. DOJ has failed to comply with their requests & the law,” Blumenthal posted on X.

Rebecca Beitsch contributed.

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