Congressman Alleges Epstein Files Scrubbed to Protect Elite

Rep. Ro Khanna says names of 'wealthy, powerful men' were redacted from public release of Epstein documents.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Questions continue to emerge over the Department of Justice's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. One Democratic Congressman, Rep. Ro Khanna, went to the House floor to read the names of six 'wealthy, powerful men' whose identities were shielded in the public release of the Epstein documents. Khanna, who co-sponsored the Epstein Transparency Act and reviewed some of the unredacted files, believes the files were scrubbed to protect elite and influential individuals.

Why it matters

The Epstein case has long been shrouded in mystery, with concerns that powerful individuals with connections to Epstein have avoided scrutiny. Khanna's allegations suggest a potential cover-up at the highest levels of government, raising questions about transparency and accountability in the justice system.

The details

Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democratic Congressman, claims that the Department of Justice redacted the names of six 'wealthy, powerful men' from the public release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Khanna, who co-sponsored the Epstein Transparency Act and reviewed some of the unredacted files, believes the files were intentionally scrubbed to protect elite and influential individuals who may have had connections to Epstein.

  • On February 10, 2026, Rep. Ro Khanna went to the House floor to read the names of the six 'wealthy, powerful men' whose identities were shielded in the public release of the Epstein documents.

The players

Rep. Ro Khanna

A Democratic Congressman who co-sponsored the Epstein Transparency Act and reviewed some of the unredacted Epstein files, alleging that the names of six 'wealthy, powerful men' were redacted from the public release.

Department of Justice

The government agency responsible for the public release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, which Khanna claims were scrubbed to protect elite and influential individuals.

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What they’re saying

“Questions continue to emerge over the Department of Justice's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. One Democratic Congressman went to the House floor to read the names of six 'wealthy, powerful men' whose identities were shielded in the public release.”

— Rep. Ro Khanna (PBS NewsHour)

What’s next

The Epstein Transparency Act, co-sponsored by Rep. Khanna, aims to require the Department of Justice to release all unredacted files related to the Epstein case. The act's passage could lead to further scrutiny and potential revelations about the individuals involved.

The takeaway

Khanna's allegations suggest a troubling pattern of shielding the identities of elite and powerful individuals with connections to the Epstein case, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in the justice system. The Epstein Transparency Act could be a crucial step in uncovering the full truth behind this long-standing scandal.