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The Justice Department's watchdog is stepping in, launching a review of how the administration handled the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files
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DOJ's Office of Inspector General says it will audit how the department identified, redacted, and released documents tied to Epstein under a law that required those files be made public
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In a statement Thursday, it said the review will look at how officials decided what to release, what to withhold, and how they handled issues after those documents went public
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The Justice Department released millions of pages earlier this year, but missed its original deadline, then pulled thousands of files back offline, drawing criticism from lawmakers and victims
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The law itself was pushed by a bipartisan group in Congress, including Democrat Ro Khanna and Republican Thomas Massey, who have called for a full accounting of how those records were handled
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The controversy also contributed to President Trump removing Attorney General Pam Bondi
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Her successor, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, has defended the department's handling of the release while also signaling a desire to move past the issue
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Epstein's longtime associate, Shalane Maxwell, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence
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The inspector general says it will release a public report once that review is complete
