Congress Publicly Identifies Six Men from Unredacted Epstein Documents
House lawmakers have publicly named six wealthy individuals whose identities were previously redacted in the Jeffrey Epstein files, marking a significant escalation in congressional oversight of the controversial documents. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) read the names aloud on the House floor Tuesday, entering them into the Congressional Record after the Justice Department initially resisted disclosure.
The move comes just days after Congress gained access to unredacted materials on February 9, sparking immediate demands for transparency. Khanna and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), co-authors of the Epstein Transparency Act, threatened to publicly expose the individuals if the DOJ did not cooperate, leveraging constitutional protections that shield members of Congress from litigation when speaking on the House floor.
What Lawmakers Found During Review
After reviewing the unredacted files for just two hours, Khanna and Massie emerged demanding answers about why these men’s identities had been withheld. “Why did it take Thomas Massie and me going to the Justice Department to get these six men’s identities to become public?” Khanna said from the House floor. “And if we found six men that they were hiding in two hours, imagine how many men they are covering up for in those 3 million files.”
Among those identified was Leslie Wexner, who was designated as a coconspirator of Epstein for “child sex trafficking” in a 2019 FBI document. Lawmakers also flagged an individual with potential high-level ties to a foreign government, though details remain limited.
Congressional Access and Ongoing Oversight
The Epstein Transparency Act, signed into law by President Trump in November 2025, mandated the release of previously classified documents related to Epstein’s sex trafficking network. However, the initial DOJ release contained extensive redactions, prompting bipartisan outcry from lawmakers including Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Ro Khanna.
Congress members now have access to documents in a secure reading room at DOJ headquarters, available Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM. Lawmakers must provide 24 hours’ notice before viewing and are prohibited from bringing electronic devices, though handwritten notes are permitted. Only members of Congress can access the materials; staff are excluded.
The DOJ review covers approximately 3 million files, though federal custody includes roughly 6 million documents total. Khanna’s concerns about additional hidden material have intensified scrutiny on the administration’s compliance with the transparency law. The House Judiciary Committee is expected to press the Attorney General on these disclosure decisions in upcoming testimony.
