Trump administration reshapes Justice Department leadership amid transparency audit
Trump administration appoints new acting attorney general and inspector general amid Epstein Files transparency audit.
Event / Security
Epstein Files Transparency Audit
The Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General announced an audit of compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, following criticism over inadequate record release, improper withholding, and victim information disclosure. The audit addresses concerns about record tampering and redaction practices as multiple international investigations proceed from released documents.
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2026-08-18 to 2026-11-15 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 24 Apr, 01:37 UTC
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What happened
Todd Blanche elevated to acting attorney general
Todd Blanche was promoted to acting attorney general following the departure of Pam Bondi. Blanche had previously served as deputy attorney general, where he announced the final release of Epstein-related documents.
Trump nominates Don Berthiaume as Justice Department inspector general
President Trump nominated career government attorney Don Berthiaume to serve as the Justice Department's next inspector general. Berthiaume had been serving as the department's acting watchdog since late 2025, following the departure of former Inspector General Michael Horowitz, who moved to the Federal Reserve.
Justice Department removes tens of thousands of Epstein files after initial publication
After publishing Epstein-related documents, the Justice Department subsequently removed tens of thousands of files from public access. A CBS News analysis found the department took down more than 47,000 files comprising approximately 65,500 pages as of late February. Links to removed files return a 'page not found' error on the department's website, leaving the number of publicly accessible documents at approximately 2.7 million pages.
Epstein Files Transparency Act passed by Congress in November 2025
Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November 2025, requiring the Justice Department to release all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell within 30 days of enactment. President Trump ultimately signed the law into effect, though the White House initially lobbied against it. The law mandated release in a searchable format.
Justice Department releases millions of pages of Epstein-related records
The Justice Department released multiple batches of Epstein-related files over several months. An initial batch was released within 30 days of the law being signed. In January, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the final release of more than 3 million pages of records related to investigations into Epstein and Maxwell. The department collected more than 6 million pages total in response to the law but withheld portions for reasons including survivors' personal information protection and active investigations.
Congressional Democrats request inspector general review of Epstein files handling
Congressional Democrats appealed to the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General to examine the department's handling of Epstein files and its responsiveness to the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Epstein survivors and a group of Democrats in Congress submitted a December 2025 letter to the inspector general requesting an independent review to determine whether any records were 'tampered' with.
Victim personal information disclosed in Epstein files release
When the Justice Department publicly released Epstein-related files, identifying information of abuse victims was inadvertently made public. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche characterized this as 'horrible' and 'inexcusable.' A group of survivors subsequently sued the Trump administration and Google over the disclosure of their personal information found in the files. Blanche acknowledged the department's decision to withhold approximately 200,000 files or redact portions for various legal reasons.
Justice Department watchdog launches audit of Epstein Files Transparency Act compliance
The Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General announced it will conduct an audit to evaluate the DOJ's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law requiring the release of department files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The audit will review the DOJ's processes for identifying, redacting, and releasing records as required by the law, as well as processes for addressing concerns after publication. Deputy Inspector General William M. Blier stated the office will issue a public report with audit results upon completion.
Multiple international investigations opened following Epstein files release
At least nine investigations related to Jeffrey Epstein have been opened in eight different countries following the release of the Epstein files by the Justice Department. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated the case remained open in the U.S. and encouraged victims to come forward with information that could help bring additional charges.
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2 alternative perspectives
Justice Department withdraws thousands of Epstein records after privacy breach
Justice Department withdraws thousands of Epstein records after inadvertently exposing victim personal information.
Justice Department watchdog audits Epstein Files transparency compliance
Justice Department watchdog begins auditing compliance with newly passed Epstein Files transparency law.