Democrat Accuses Justice Department of Spying on Lawmakers in Epstein Probe
A leading Democrat has called for an immediate watchdog investigation after photographs emerged that appear to show the Justice Department tracking the search history of lawmakers who are reviewing files from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The allegations have sparked outrage and demands for transparency in a high-profile case that continues to draw intense congressional scrutiny.
Photographic Evidence Sparks Outrage
Representative Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, has formally requested that the Justice Department's inspector general investigate what he described as "spying" on members of Congress. This week, lawmakers have been reviewing less-redacted versions of the Epstein files at a department annex using department-owned computers.
The controversy erupted when photographs taken during Attorney General Pam Bondi's hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday showed her holding a binder open to a page that clearly stated "Jayapal Pramila Search History." The page listed a series of documents that had apparently been reviewed by Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who was among the Judiciary Committee members questioning Bondi about the department's handling of the Epstein files.
Lawmakers Demand Accountability
Congresswoman Jayapal responded with strong condemnation, calling the situation "totally unacceptable" and vowing that lawmakers would be "demanding a full accounting" of how the department is using search history data. In a post on social media platform X, Jayapal stated: "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."
In recent days, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has traveled to a Justice Department outpost to examine less-redacted records from the Epstein files. However, some who have reviewed the documents have complained that excessive information about Epstein associates remains withheld from public view, raising further questions about transparency.
Justice Department Under Scrutiny
The Trump administration Justice Department announced last month that it was releasing more than 3 million pages of documents along with more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images related to Epstein investigations. Despite this massive document release, concerns about proper oversight and congressional access have continued to mount.
Spokespeople for the Justice Department did not immediately return requests for comment on Thursday, and a representative for the inspector general's office declined to comment on the developing situation.
Raskin's Strong Statement
In a detailed statement, Representative Raskin expressed deep concern about the implications of the alleged surveillance. "Not only had the Justice Department withheld records from lawmakers," Raskin stated, "but now Bondi and her team are spying on members of Congress conducting oversight in yet another blatant attempt to intrude into Congress's oversight processes."
Raskin outlined specific demands for immediate action: "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."
The allegations come at a sensitive time for the Justice Department, which faces increasing pressure to provide complete transparency regarding the Epstein investigation while protecting the privacy and dignity of survivors. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between congressional oversight responsibilities and executive branch operations in high-stakes investigations.
