Democrat accuses DOJ of 'spying' on lawmakers reviewing Epstein files
Raskin asked the Justice Department inspector general to investigate what he described as tracking lawmakers’ searches of Epstein files.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates KSBW, which carries this article. The other scores rate the article itself. KSBW's published outlet score.
Credibility rates KSBW, which carries this article. The other scores rate the article itself. KSBW's published outlet score.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The report gives specific details from the photographs and quotes the lawmakers involved, while making clear that the alleged tracking is their characterization. The Justice Department did not respond before publication, and the article provides limited independent confirmation or explanation of the tracking system.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article includes multiple lawmakers’ criticism and notes that the Justice Department and inspector general’s office did not provide comment. The opposing institutional perspective is therefore unavailable, leaving the allegations without a substantive response in the story.
- Counterarguments presented — No substantive response from the Justice Department or inspector general is included.
- Source diversity — The quoted sources are lawmakers critical of the apparent tracking; the article reports that other offices declined or did not respond.
- Loaded language — Strong terms appear in lawmakers’ quoted remarks and are attributed to them.
The article uses an attributed account of the alleged tracking and reports lawmakers’ criticism without adopting it as fact. Its language and framing are consistent with a straight news report.
- Language tone — Charged terms such as “spying” are presented as lawmakers’ characterization.
- Source selection — The report quotes Raskin and Jayapal and notes that the department and inspector general did not comment.
- Framing — The story centers on the request for an investigation and the allegation, while attributing claims to their speakers.
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The same article also appears on WGAL and 12 other sites. Which outlet published it first has not been determined.
Rep. Jamie Raskin asked the Justice Department inspector general to investigate photographs that appeared to show lawmakers’ searches of Epstein files being tracked. Rep. Pramila Jayapal called the apparent tracking unacceptable and said lawmakers would demand an accounting.
Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, asked the Justice Department inspector general to investigate what he called spying on members of Congress reviewing less-redacted Epstein records. Photographs from Attorney General Pam Bondi’s committee hearing showed a binder page labeled “Jayapal Pramila Search History,” listing documents apparently reviewed. Jayapal said the situation was “totally unacceptable” and that lawmakers would demand a full accounting.
Jayapal accused Bondi of having time to spy on lawmakers while failing to apologize to Epstein’s abuse survivors. Raskin said the department was intruding on Congress’s oversight and called for it to stop tracking searches, allow senior congressional staff to review the files, and release the records with survivors’ information redacted. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and the inspector general’s office declined to comment.
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SWIPE →House Judiciary Committee’s top Democrat who requested an inspector general investigation
Attorney General whose hearing and binder appear in the account of the alleged tracking
House Judiciary Committee member who questioned Bondi and criticized the apparent tracking
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