DOJ Releases Additional Names in Epstein Documents Following Lawmaker Scrutiny
Under mounting pressure from United States lawmakers, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken a significant step by releasing additional unredacted names from the extensive Jeffrey Epstein document trove. This development, reported by CNN, occurred on Monday local time and follows a detailed review by several congressional members who examined the unredacted versions of multiple records. The Justice Department had previously released the last major batch of Epstein files on January 30.
Lawmaker Criticisms and the Push for Transparency
Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky provided crucial insight during an interview with CNN. He revealed that the Department of Justice had previously redacted the identities of several individuals named in a 2019 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) document. This action has sparked considerable debate and scrutiny regarding the transparency of the investigation process.
Key Figures Unredacted in the Latest Release
The newly unredacted names include prominent individuals identified as co-conspirators of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein:
- Les Wexner: The billionaire business magnate and former CEO of Victoria's Secret parent company L Brands. Wexner had previously employed Epstein as a money manager but stated he severed ties in 2007. When Wexner's name first emerged publicly in December, his attorney emphasized that the Assistant US Attorney overseeing the Epstein investigation had clarified Wexner was neither a target nor a co-conspirator in any capacity.
- Lesley Groff: Epstein's longtime assistant. Groff's attorney stated she had never seen the document and was unaware of being labeled a co-conspirator. After voluntarily cooperating with prosecutors and answering all questions, she was informed she would not face prosecution.
- Jean-Luc Brunel: The former French modeling agent who died in 2022 in his prison cell after being arrested on charges including raping a minor.
Additional Names Revealed by Congressman Ro Khanna
Further names were brought to public attention by US Congressman Ro Khanna during a floor speech on Tuesday local time. According to The Guardian, these include:
- Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, CEO of DP World and an Emirati billionaire businessman.
- Nicola Caputo, Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze, and Leonic Leonov.
Khanna expressed concern, stating, "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."
DOJ's Lack of Clarification on Redaction Methods
The CNN report highlights that the Department of Justice has not yet provided an explanation for what is described as a confused and inconsistent redaction process. Furthermore, the DOJ has not clarified why the FBI did not pursue charges against individuals other than Epstein, citing that the available evidence did not support further prosecutions.
Widespread Criticism Over Handling of Epstein Files
Since President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November 2025, the Department of Justice has released an enormous collection of documents. The latest tranche comprises over three million pages, 180,000 images, and at least 2,000 videos. These materials detail sex-trafficking investigations involving Epstein and offer new information about his connections with influential and wealthy figures.
Congressional Democrats have been particularly vocal in their criticism of the Justice Department's handling of the file redactions. Some accuse the department of excessive redaction, while attorneys representing Epstein survivors, as reported by CBS News, argue that the DOJ failed to properly redact survivors' names before publishing the database, raising serious privacy and procedural concerns.
