{"id":2596182,"date":"2026-04-28T14:20:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T18:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gao-agrees-to-open-investigation-into-doj-handling-of-epstein-files\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T14:21:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T18:21:12","slug":"gao-agrees-to-open-investigation-into-doj-handling-of-epstein-files","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gao-agrees-to-open-investigation-into-doj-handling-of-epstein-files\/","title":{"rendered":"GAO agrees to open investigation into DOJ handling of Epstein files"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgao-agrees-to-open-investigation-into-doj-handling-of-epstein-files%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2596182&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has agreed to investigate how the Justice Department handled the \u201cEpstein files.\u201d Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), who announced the move and previously pushed for such an audit in a bipartisan letter, said the goal is to ensure DOJ compliance with federal law and to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ocasio-cortez-requests-earmarks-for-two-hospitals-that-perform-abortions\/\" title=\"Ocasio-Cortez Requests Earmarks For Two Hospitals That Perform Abortions\">promote transparency<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>GAO coordination is expected with the DOJ inspector general,which is also auditing how the department identified,redacted,and released the documents. Merkley and other senators argued the releases were incomplete, noting that many records were heavily redacted initially, before DOJ later released more documents by the end of January.<\/p>\n<p>The Epstein Files Transparency Act-passed by congress and signed by President Donald Trump-required DOJ to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-to-keep-left-wing-labor-secretary-in-role-without-senate-approval\/\" title=\"Biden retains left-leaning Labor Secretary sans Senate nod.\">release records related<\/a> to Jeffrey Epstein. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated he wanted to \u201cmove past\u201d the Epstein matter, but later clarified he did not mean to stop ongoing consideration, while acknowledging the public still lacks closure.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/government-accountability-office\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4717\">Government Accountability Office<\/a>, an independent agency in the legislative branch, agreed on Tuesday to open an investigation into the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"438\">Justice Department\u2019s<\/a> handling of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/epstein-files\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17582\">Epstein files<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jeff-merkley\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"3655\">Jeff Merkley<\/a> (D-OR) announced the news over a month after he signed a bipartisan letter asking the GAO to open such an investigation to ensure the DOJ is complying with federal law.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4545878\/fauci-former-senior-adviser-indicted-charge-concealing-covid-19-records\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Fauci\u2019s former senior adviser indicted on charges of concealing COVID-19 research records<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4545521\/doj-rip-preservation-group-white-house-ballroom-lawsuit-tds\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ rips a strip of preservation group over White House ballroom lawsuit: \u2018TDS\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4545032\/injured-secret-service-five-shots-cole-trump-assassination-attempt\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Injured Secret Service agent fired five shots at Cole during Trump assassination attempt<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>\u201cI called for an audit into the DOJ after the department ignored the clear deadline to release the Epstein Files laid out in the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act,\u201d Merkley <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenJeffMerkley\/status\/2049126569394762171\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenJeffMerkley\/status\/2049126569394762171\">posted on X<\/a>. \u201cI will keep pushing for transparency and justice!\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Merkley was joined by Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) in penning the letter.<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-dhs-ig-tells-sen-blackburn-agency-considering-concerns-over-86-9-million-contract-to-house-illegal-immigrants\/\" title=\"EXCLUSIVE: DHS IG Tells Sen. Blackburn Agency \u2018Considering\u2019 Concerns Over .9 Million Contract To House Illegal Immigrants\">inspector general\u2019<\/a>s office is also leading an audit to determine how the department identified, redacted, and released the Epstein files in recent months. Merkley and other <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >senators similarly requested<\/a> that the inspector general\u2019s office get involved.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4545540\/united-arab-emirates-quits-opec-alliance\/\"><strong>UNITED ARAB EMIRATES QUITS OPEC ALLIANCE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In response to Merkley, the congressional watchdog said it will coordinate with the DOJ inspector general to avoid duplicative work in their investigations.<\/p>\n<p>The Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed by Congress and signed by President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a>, compelled the DOJ to release all <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-was-daunte-wrights-warrant-for-aggravated-robbery\/\" title=\"FACT CHECK: Was Daunte Wright\u2019s Warrant For Aggravated Robbery?\">records pertaining<\/a> to convicted sex offender <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jeffrey-epstein\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1860\">Jeffrey Epstein<\/a>. Merkley introduced the Senate version of the Epstein-related legislation that became law on Nov. 19.<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ released the documents by the Dec. 19 deadline, which some lawmakers argue were incomplete. Many documents were heavily redacted at first, prompting backlash against the Trump administration. The DOJ then released over 3.5 million pages by the end of January.<\/p>\n<p>That isn\u2019t the total estimated figure, however. The department identified about 6 million pages as potentially relevant for disclosure.<\/p>\n<p>After succeeding <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pam-bondi\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11687\">Pam Bondi<\/a> this month, Acting Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"20883\">Todd Blanche<\/a> suggested he wished to move past the Epstein investigations.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4544549\/charles-goes-to-washington-king-visits-trump-with-special-relationship-at-a-low\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4544549\/charles-goes-to-washington-king-visits-trump-with-special-relationship-at-a-low\/\">CHARLES GOES TO WASHINGTON: KING VISITS TRUMP WITH \u2018SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP\u2019 AT A LOW<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo the extent that the Epstein files [were] a part of the past year of this Justice Department, it should not be a part of anything going forward,\u201d he said on Fox News\u2019s <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/video\/6392478701112\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/video\/6392478701112\">Jesse Watters Primetime<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Blanche later backtracked, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/semafor\/status\/2044488243064771036\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/semafor\/status\/2044488243064771036\">telling <em>Semafor<\/em><\/a>  he \u201cnever said we should move past that\u201d and acknowledged that the public hasn\u2019t gotten any \u201cclosure\u201d on Epstein nearly seven years after his death.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GAO will investigate DOJ handling of Epstein files, Merkley says<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2596184,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26030678088049.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[8049,78748,5045,3976,4151],"class_list":["post-2596182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-accountability","tag-doj-oversight-2","tag-government","tag-investigation","tag-judiciary"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26030678088049.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2596182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2596182"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2596182\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2596187,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2596182\/revisions\/2596187"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2596184"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2596182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2596182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2596182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}