Raskin Accuses DOJ of Spying on Lawmakers over Epstein Review/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Rep. Jamie Raskin accused the Justice Department of tracking lawmakers’ searches. The allegation stems from photos shown during Attorney General Pam Bondi’s hearing. Democrats are demanding an inspector general investigation.
DOJ Epstein Files Search Tracking – Quick Looks
- Rep. Jamie Raskin calls for inspector general probe
- Alleged tracking of lawmakers’ search histories
- Photo shows “Jayapal Pramila Search History”
- Lawmakers reviewing less-redacted Epstein records
- DOJ has released over 3 million pages of files
Deep Look: Top Democrat Accuses Justice Department of ‘Spying’ on Lawmakers Reviewing Epstein Files
A senior House Democrat is demanding a watchdog investigation after photographs surfaced suggesting the Justice Department tracked the search activity of lawmakers reviewing sensitive records tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, has asked the Justice Department’s inspector general to examine what he described as “spying” on members of Congress conducting oversight.
The controversy emerged after photos taken during Attorney General Pam Bondi’s hearing before the House Judiciary Committee showed her holding a binder open to a page labeled “Jayapal Pramila Search History.” The page appeared to list documents accessed during lawmakers’ review sessions.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who had pressed Bondi about the department’s handling of the Epstein files during the hearing, was among the lawmakers reviewing the records.
Jayapal called the situation “totally unacceptable” and said members of Congress would demand a full explanation of how search histories were being monitored.
“Bondi has enough time to spy on Members of Congress, but can’t find it in herself to apologize to the survivors of Epstein’s horrific abuse,” Jayapal wrote on social media.
Lawmakers Reviewing Less-Redacted Files
In recent days, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has traveled to a Justice Department facility to review less-redacted versions of Epstein-related materials on department-owned computers. Some members have complained that significant information about Epstein’s associates remains withheld.
Last month, the Trump administration’s Justice Department announced the release of more than 3 million pages of documents, along with more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images connected to the Epstein investigations.
Raskin alleged that not only has the department withheld certain materials from lawmakers, but it has also intruded into Congress’s oversight process by monitoring search activity.
“DOJ must immediately cease tracking any Members’ searches, open up the Epstein review to senior congressional staff, and publicly release all files — with all the survivors’ information, and only the survivors’ information, properly redacted — as required by federal law,” Raskin said in a statement.
DOJ Response Pending
Spokespeople for the Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A representative for the inspector general’s office also declined to comment.
The dispute adds another layer of tension to ongoing congressional scrutiny of how the Justice Department has handled the release and redaction of Epstein-related materials — a politically charged issue that continues to draw attention from both parties.
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