Government Watchdog Launches Probe into Trump Administration’s Epstein Files Cover-Up

The Trump administration’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein’s damning files is now under federal scrutiny. The Government Accountability Office (GAO), Congress’s independent watchdog, has agreed to investigate the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) process for reviewing, redacting, and releasing Epstein-related records, Scripps News reports.

This inquiry follows a bipartisan demand led by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), joined by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Dick Durbin (D-IL), who blasted the DOJ for blatant violations of the Epstein Transparency Act. That law, signed by Trump last fall, required the DOJ to release all unclassified Epstein files by December 2025 with strict limits on redactions: protecting survivors’ identities was mandatory, but shielding alleged abusers from reputational harm was forbidden.

Instead, the released 3.5 million pages revealed glaring contradictions. Victims’ names and sensitive details were exposed without redaction, leading to lawsuits against DOJ and Google for privacy breaches. Meanwhile, records implicating powerful business and political figures were heavily blacked out, fueling suspicion of a cover-up to protect elites.

Merkley’s letter to the GAO accused the DOJ of “re-victimizing” survivors by failing to safeguard their privacy while shielding Epstein’s enablers. The watchdog’s review will assess whether the department complied with the law or deliberately undermined transparency.

The GAO has not disclosed investigators or timelines, but this probe adds to pressure on the DOJ, which last week’s Office of Inspector General announcement confirmed its own review of the Epstein files’ handling. The OIG aims to determine if the DOJ properly identified and redacted records as required, promising a public report once complete.

The White House declined to comment, deferring to the DOJ, which has yet to respond publicly.

This investigation is critical. Epstein’s scandal exposed a network of abuse shielded by power and influence. The Trump administration’s role in managing these files raises urgent questions about accountability and justice for survivors. We will be watching closely as the GAO peels back the layers of secrecy that have protected the guilty and harmed the victims.