Lawmakers Demand Action Over Inappropriate Redactions in Epstein Files

Wed Feb 11 2026 01:08:37 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

US lawmakers raise concerns about improper redactions in the documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, emphasizing the need for accountability in the handling of sensitive information.

Congress members have accused the Department of Justice of improperly redacting files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The review of unredacted documents revealed significant omissions, leading to calls for transparency and accountability. Lawmakers expressed frustration at the limited access to documents and the delayed response from the DOJ regarding crucial names left redacted.

US lawmakers say files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were improperly redacted ahead of their release by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Members of Congress on Monday were allowed to begin a review of the unredacted versions of the approximately three million pages of files released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA) since December.

The core issue is that they're not complying with... my law, because these were scrubbed back in March by Donald Trump's FBI, Democratic Representative Ro Khanna told MS NOW.

At least one document has been unredacted since the lawmakers' complaint, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche saying on X: The DOJ is committed to transparency.

The files' redactions came under scrutiny last week after lawyers for Epstein's victims said the latest tranche of files included email addresses and nude photos in which the names and faces of potential victims could be identified.

Survivors issued a statement calling the disclosure outrageous and said they should not be named, scrutinized and retraumatized.

The DOJ said it had taken down all the flagged files, attributing mistakes to technical or human error.

After viewing the unredacted documents, Massie and Khanna, who co-sponsored the law which compelled the release of the Epstein files last year, reported that they encountered a list of about 20 people, with every name redacted except for Epstein's and his convicted sex trafficker associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

Six of the names could potentially belong to men who are likely implicated, Massie said outside the DOJ on Monday night, demanding an explanation.

Khanna and Massie insisted that these names were improperly redacted and reiterated calls for accountability from the DOJ.

In response to concerns, Blanche stated that his department had unredacted all non-victim names and maintained the DOJ's commitment to transparency.

Lawmakers including Democrats and Republicans expressed their discontent with the limited access to the unredacted documents, accusing the DOJ of conducting a cover-up.

Raskin highlighted that the limited access amounts to a cover up, while several representatives noted the impracticality of reviewing over 3 million documents with only four computers made available.