Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), along with Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), have reintroduced the bipartisan Inspector General Access Act. The legislation aims to grant the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) authority to investigate allegations of misconduct by DOJ attorneys.
Grassley emphasized the importance of independent oversight, stating, “Federal prosecutors have significant authority to enforce our laws. In cases where they abuse that authority, independent watchdogs should be the ones to investigate – not fellow Justice Department attorneys. This is a cut-and-dry matter of accountability and public trust.”
Durbin highlighted concerns about attorney conduct at the Justice Department: “The American people deserve top-notch attorneys representing them at the Justice Department, and Justice Department prosecutors should be subject to independent oversight regardless of the Attorney General. Allegations of professional misconduct should be investigated by the Inspector General, or else we could end up with another instance like the Jeffrey Epstein sweetheart deal struck by then-U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta. This is a simple, bipartisan fix for a clear loophole in federal law, and I thank Senator Lee for joining me in this effort.”
Lee criticized current exemptions from IG oversight for DOJ attorneys: “The current IG oversight exemption for attorneys is a nonsensical carve out. Our simple bill changes that, ensuring DOJ attorneys are held to the same standard as other federal agencies. I’m proud to partner again with Senator Durbin on this common-sense bipartisan effort.”
Grassley has supported this legislative change since its original introduction in 2015 as part of his work with the Senate Inspector General Caucus.
Other cosponsors include Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).
