Bipartisan Senator Group Asks for Accountability Investigation of U.S. Department of Justice
A letter sent to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) today from a bipartisan group of senators requests a review of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) handling and release of documents related to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein. The letter outlines concerns about redactions in the millions of released files and seeks clarity about how the information was reviewed.
Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) signed the letter, which argues the DOJ failed to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The law allows victims’ identities and information to be redacted but does not allow redactions based on embarrassment, reputational harm or political sensitivity.
“Contrary to Congress’s explicit directive to protect victims, these records included email addresses and nude photos in which the names and faces of publicly-identified and non-public victims could be identified,” wrote the senators. “But when it came to information identifying powerful business and politics figures who are alleged co-conspirators or material witnesses, DOJ appears to have heavily redacted those records.”
The review request comes a week after the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi as part of its ongoing investigation into Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
“There’s over 65,000 documents missing, and we know there are more than 2,000 videos that are out there,” said Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) who introduced the resolution to subpoena Bondi. “They’re not giving Congress all the information or all the documents, and they’re obfuscating. And I’d like to ask questions about that in our deposition.”
Where Are Epstein’s Financial Records?
What’s also missing from the Epstein files are the convicted sex trafficker’s bank records. The U.S. Treasury Department holds an extensive number of financial records, which will undoubtedly provide a road map of his criminal network and activity. The records could help reveal co-conspirators, enablers and unprosecuted financial crimes.
Earlier this month, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), ranking member of the Finance Committee, attempted to pass the Produce Epstein Treasury Records Act, which would compel the Treasury Department to turn over Epstein-related bank records to Congressional investigators. Republicans blocked the proposal.
Last year, Wyden requested the records several times but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has repeatedly refused to turn them over, downplaying their significance.
According to a recorded Senate statement from July of 2025, the Biden administration allowed investigators to look at portions of the files in 2024 in the Treasury Building. They found that, “Treasury’s Epstein file details 4,725 wire transfers — adding up to nearly $1.1 billion flowing in and out of just one of Mr. Epstein’s bank accounts. Hundreds of millions more flowed through other accounts.” The statement added, “The file shows that Mr. Epstein used multiple Russian banks, which are now under sanctions, to process payments related to sex trafficking. A lot of the women and girls he targeted came from Russia, Belarus, Turkiye, and elsewhere.”
It’s worth it to note that the Trump administration has just announced it is easing restrictions on Russian oil exports as the war with Iran creates a global energy crisis. Scott Bessent, who has downplayed the significance of Epstein’s financial dealings, last week issued a 30-day waiver for India to buy Russian oil already at sea.
“We have sanctions on some countries, we are going to take those sanctions off until this straightens out,” said Trump when questioned about the sanctions. “And then who knows, maybe we won’t have to put them on because there will be so much peace.”