Epstein Files Included Unredacted Video of Undercover Person

Justice Department failed to properly obscure the face of an undercover agent in a video related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Justice Department's ongoing struggle with redactions in the released records related to Jeffrey Epstein continued when it was discovered that the face of an undercover person was left uncovered in a video. The 2009 video shows Epstein's former Palm Beach house manager Alfredo Rodriguez trying to sell a little black book of addresses and phone numbers, claiming it contained powerful people and victims of Epstein, to the undercover person. After the video was published by CNN, the Justice Department said it failed to obscure the face of the undercover person.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the Justice Department's difficulty in properly redacting sensitive information from the Epstein case files, which has led to the unintentional release of information that could compromise ongoing investigations and the safety of individuals involved.

The details

The video shows Alfredo Rodriguez, Epstein's former house manager, attempting to sell Epstein's 'little black book' of contacts, which he claimed included phone numbers for underage girls. The undercover person is seen handing Rodriguez a bag of cash before the video ends. Rodriguez was later arrested for failing to turn over the book as evidence, but claimed it was his 'insurance policy' out of fear that Epstein would 'make him disappear'.

  • The video was recorded in 2009, two years after the FBI demanded Rodriguez turn over any Epstein documents.
  • Rodriguez pleaded guilty to obstruction charges and was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2009.
  • Rodriguez died in 2014.

The players

Alfredo Rodriguez

Epstein's former Palm Beach house manager, often called his butler, who attempted to sell Epstein's 'little black book' of contacts to an undercover FBI employee in a 2009 sting operation.

Ghislaine Maxwell

Epstein's longtime co-conspirator who has since been convicted for her role in the crimes and is currently in prison. Rodriguez claimed in the video that Maxwell kept a database of girls, which included naked images.

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What they’re saying

“You will see a lot of important people here,”

— Alfredo Rodriguez, Epstein's former house manager (CNN)

“The teenagers, they had braces,”

— Alfredo Rodriguez, Epstein's former house manager (CNN)

What’s next

The Justice Department continues to face severe backlash over publishing documents that included the names of victims and over-redacting information related to those who may have aided Epstein in his crimes. The Attorney General has stated that if any man's name was redacted that should not have been, they will unredact it, and if a victim's name was unredacted, they will redact it.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges the Justice Department faces in properly redacting sensitive information from the Epstein case files, which has led to the unintentional release of information that could compromise ongoing investigations and the safety of individuals involved. It underscores the need for greater care and oversight in the redaction process to protect the privacy and security of all parties.