DOJ's handling of Epstein files to get congressional watchdog scrutiny

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore,) speaks during a press conference addressing a new policy that demands recipients of foreign military aid to follow international humanitarian law at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., February 9, 2024. Nathan Howard | Reuters Congress' independent watchdog plans to open an investigation into the Department of Justice 's handling of files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein , according to Sen. Jeff Merkley , D-Ore. Merkley announced the opening of the probe on Tuesday, a little over a month after he and Sens. Lisa Murkowski , R-Alaska, Ben Ray Luján , D-N.M., and Dick Durbin , D-Ill., requested the Government Accountability Office do so. ""By illegally disregarding the law, the Trump Administration is cruelly denying 'equal justice under the law' to all of Jeffrey Epstein's victims," Merkley said in a statement. "This independent investigation is an important step in holding this Administration accountable for siding with the rich and powerful to help cover up the abuse of our most vulnerable." Merkley is the senator who introduced the Senate version of legislation that last year became law and compelled the release of the Epstein files .