Members of Congress are raising concerns over the heavily redacted Jeffrey Epstein files released by the Department of Justice.
Some are arguing that key information about high-profile individuals and possible co-conspirators still remains hidden.
Six previously redacted names
In the beginning of February, lawmakers were been given access to review more than three million pages of documents recently made public under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Back then, Rep. Jamie Raskin voiced frustration over the limited access, noting that members can review the documents on just four computers in a DOJ satellite office.
“It’s not explained yet why there might be certain redactions that have been made,” Raskin said. “So, I went over there, and I was able to determine, at least, I believe, that there were tons of completely unnecessary redactions in addition to the failure to redact the names of victims, and so that’s troubling to us. I saw the names of lots of people who were redacted for mysterious or baffling or inscrutable reasons.”
Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), co-authors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, also expressed concern that some men’s names may have been redacted incorrectly.
Khanna read six previously redacted names during a floor speech after reviewing the files at the DOJ with Massie. These included Leslie Wexner, founder of Victoria’s Secret; Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, CEO of DP World; Nicola Caputo; Salvatore Nuara; Zurab Mikeladze; and Leonic Leonov.
Khanna also questioned why women’s names were often redacted simply for being female. “Just because, for example, someone is female doesn’t necessarily mean they’re survivors. And it seemed like they blanket redacted anyone who was a female from my review,” he said.
“I took a lot of notes”
Meanwhile, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) revealed that she had compiled her own list of redacted names and wants answers about why they remain hidden.
“I took a lot of notes. I saw a lot of names,” she told Katie Pavlich Tonight. “I wanted to look at the documents of the people who have not been arrested or investigated. A lot of that information is still redacted.”
Mace said she found evidence of adult women in the files who may have acted as co-conspirators, recruiting young women and potentially underage individuals for Epstein.
“Really disgusting behavior. These are people that I want to have brought in, testify and answer some very tough questions,” she said.
She also expressed concern for victims’ privacy. “I’m very concerned as a survivor about protecting the personal information, the names of underage children of some of these women that was put out in the public,” Mace said.
“And it’s also, it’s shaming. It’s victim shaming.”
Mace emphasized that while not everyone named in the files necessarily committed crimes, their associations with Epstein raise questions.
“I saw some names in there, people that I had no idea would be in the files, who were scheduling lunch or meetings with a convicted pedophile. Didn’t do anything wrong, but certainly you question, ‘Wow, why are all these people, rich and powerful and famous, Hollywood, et cetera, doing this?’”
On Tuesday, the lawmaker also claimed the DOJ is still withholding “terabytes” of records related to Epstein, including documents that could reveal additional financial crimes or connections to federal agents.
Pressing for greater transparency
“This is much bigger than a prostitution and sex trafficking ring,” Mace said. “I think this goes beyond the pale. This was a lot of things, and maybe our government didn’t want to investigate it. Didn’t want to. That’s why I say I think he was an Intel asset because there’s just no way you can explain this just being swept under the rug, other than he had intelligence that our government wanted and/or paid for.”
Mace has been pressing for greater transparency for months, including writing to the Southern District of New York for access to a 2019 memo that may contain information about Epstein’s possible co-conspirators.
She has also called on the CIA to disclose any records regarding Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, citing a 2011 FOIA request from Epstein’s lawyers. The agency refused to confirm or deny the existence of such records, citing classification.
“Epstein’s potential ties to the CIA and its operations raise serious questions which require serious answers,” Mace said. “The survivors of Epstein’s heinous crimes and the American people deserve complete transparency on whether the CIA had any affiliation with child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein or knew about his nefarious activities.”
Mace, herself a sexual assault survivor, has become a vocal advocate for accountability. She has attended committee meetings with victims and pressed for Prince Andrew, formerly Prince Andrew, Duke of York, to face criminal consequences for his ties to Epstein.
“Who’s next?” she asked. “We will not be silenced. We will not back down. We will not stop until every co-conspirator, every enabler, and every powerful figure who hid behind wealth and connections is held fully accountable. No one is above the law.”
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