In a significant turn of events, top Democratic lawmaker Rep. Jamie Raskin has called for an investigation by the Department of Justice's inspector general, following alarming reports suggesting that DOJ officials have been monitoring the search histories of Congressional members regarding the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
Raskin, who serves as the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, characterized these actions as a form of 'spying.' This controversy ignited during recent hearings where lawmakers reviewed less-redacted versions of the Epstein files on government-owned computers.
Visual proof of these claims surfaced during Attorney General Pam Bondi's testimony before the committee, where photographs revealed a document labeled 'Jayapal Pramila Search History,' suggesting that specific searches by Rep. Pramila Jayapal were being tracked. Jayapal has expressed her condemnation of these revelations, calling it 'totally unacceptable' and insisting on a comprehensive accounting of the DOJ's monitoring practices.
Raskin criticized the DOJ for allegedly withholding records from lawmakers and monitoring their activities, claiming it represents a blatant intrusion into Congress’s oversight responsibilities. He has insisted that the department must cease tracking lawmakers' searches, facilitate access to the Epstein documents for senior congressional staff, and ensure the transparent release of all relevant files.
As the fallout continues, lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns about the extent of information being withheld about Epstein's associates and are demanding greater transparency. Last month, the Trump administration's DOJ announced the release of millions of pages of related documents, but critics argue that too much data remains classified.
The Justice Department has yet to comment on these accusations, sparking further outrage among lawmakers who continue to push for accountability and reform in oversight practices.
