Ro Khanna Accused of Defaming Innocent Men in Epstein Case

Congressman named six 'wealthy, powerful' men he claimed were 'likely incriminated' in Epstein files, but four had no connection to the case.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Congressman Ro Khanna took to the House floor to name six 'wealthy, powerful' men he claimed were 'likely incriminated' in the Jeffrey Epstein files. However, four of the six men Khanna named had no connection to Epstein whatsoever, with one being an IT manager and another a mechanic. Khanna hid behind parliamentary privilege to make the accusations, but has been accused of abusing his congressional powers and defaming innocent people for political gain.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns about the abuse of congressional privilege and the damage that can be done when lawmakers make unsubstantiated claims about private citizens. There are important legal protections in place to safeguard the privacy of people whose names come up during criminal investigations, but Khanna appears to have disregarded these in his rush for political attention.

The details

Khanna and Rep. Thomas Massie claimed they discovered the names of six 'wealthy, powerful' men when reviewing the unredacted Epstein files at the Department of Justice. However, four of the six men had no connection to Epstein. One was an IT manager in Queens, and another was a mechanic. Khanna waited until he was on the House floor to reveal the names, knowing he would be protected from defamation lawsuits under the Speech and Debate Clause of the Constitution. The Department of Justice has criticized Khanna for not verifying the facts before making the accusations publicly.

  • On February 15, 2026, Khanna named the six men in a speech on the House floor.
  • Khanna later posted the names on his official X account, potentially exposing himself to further legal action.

The players

Ro Khanna

A Democratic U.S. Representative from California's 17th congressional district, who has been accused of defaming several innocent men in an attempt to gain political attention.

Thomas Massie

A Republican U.S. Representative from Kentucky, who joined Khanna in reviewing the unredacted Epstein files at the Department of Justice.

Todd Blanche

The Deputy Attorney General, who criticized Khanna for not verifying the facts before making the accusations publicly.

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What they’re saying

“I wish DOJ had provided that explanation earlier instead of redacting then unredacting their names.”

— Ro Khanna, U.S. Representative (X)

“The 'problem' is that you didn't come to us, but immediately ran to X and the House floor and made false accusations about four men, while we were checking the facts.”

— Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General (X)

What’s next

The four men who were falsely accused by Khanna may pursue legal action for defamation, as Khanna's statements on the House floor may not be fully protected under the Speech and Debate Clause if he later publicized the names on social media.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for greater accountability and responsibility among lawmakers when it comes to making public accusations, especially those that could harm the reputations of private citizens. It also raises concerns about the potential abuse of congressional privilege and the importance of verifying facts before making damaging claims.