WASHINGTON — In a dramatic turn during a congressional review of unredacted files related to Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking case, Representative Thomas Massie, R-Ky., pressed the Justice Department to reveal the name of a prominent figure previously hidden behind redactions. On Monday, Massie questioned why the name of a 'well known retired CEO' had been obscured in the documents, leading Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to unredact the name of billionaire Les Wexner, the former CEO of Victoria's Secret, on the spot. 'We have just unredacted Les Wexner’s name from this document, but his name already appears in the files thousands of times,' Blanche announced, adding that 'DOJ is hiding nothing.'
Massie's intervention came as a small group of lawmakers, including himself, gained access to the full, unredacted Justice Department files on Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. According to Massie, the files include a 2019 FBI document listing Wexner as a potential co-conspirator in child sex trafficking, a detail that had remained concealed for seven years. 'This is significant because Kash Patel testified to Congress that FBI had no evidence of other sex traffickers,' Massie said in a statement following the review. He suggested that the revelation could imply perjury by Patel, the current FBI director, and criticized the DOJ for redacting names under the pretext of protecting victims. 'Tonight they learned you can redact victim names while still publishing the other names, per our law,' Massie added.
The unredaction highlights ongoing concerns about transparency in the Epstein investigation, which has implicated high-profile individuals across business, politics, and entertainment. Wexner, a longtime associate of Epstein, has not been charged with any crimes related to the case, and the DOJ has maintained that no further action is warranted against him. However, the episode underscores questions about why certain names were shielded for so long, especially as the files mention President Donald Trump more than 38,000 times across over 5,300 documents. Last week, Blanche stated that a summer review of the files found no credible evidence against Trump warranting additional investigation.
Trump's own connections to Epstein have drawn renewed scrutiny from these disclosures. Newly released government files show that in July 2006, as Epstein's criminal activities in Palm Beach, Florida, became public, Trump spoke with then-Police Chief Michael Reiter about the matter. According to a 2019 FBI interview with Reiter, reported by the Miami Herald, Trump said, 'Thank goodness you’re stopping him, everyone has known he’s been doing this.' Trump also referred to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's convicted accomplice, as his 'operative,' calling her 'evil' and urging focus on her. He recounted being around Epstein once with teenagers present and saying he 'got the hell out of there,' as well as claiming to have thrown Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago club.
These details contradict Trump's 2019 public statement during his first term, when he told reporters, 'No, I had no idea. I had no idea,' about Epstein's assaults on girls. Reiter, who retired in 2009, confirmed to the Miami Herald that he spoke with Trump in 2006 and was interviewed by the FBI a decade later. However, an FBI official denied the interaction, telling the newspaper, 'We are not aware of any corroborating evidence that the President contacted law enforcement 20 years ago.'
During her deposition with the House Oversight Committee on Monday, Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence for aiding Epstein's crimes, refused to answer questions. Through her attorney, she stated she would only speak if granted clemency by President Trump. This stance has fueled speculation about what Maxwell and others might still know regarding Epstein's network, which Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin, D-Md., described as a 'billion-dollar international child sex trafficking ring' that could not have operated with just Epstein and Maxwell alone.
After reviewing the unredacted files, Raskin accused the DOJ of operating in 'cover-up mode.' Speaking to reporters on Monday, he said, 'I think that the Department of Justice has been in a cover-up mode for many months, and has been trying to sweep the entire thing under the rug.' Raskin emphasized the need for hearings with survivors, investigations into the financial trails, and probes into the organizational structure. He also pointed to a redacted portion contradicting Trump's narrative about Epstein at Mar-a-Lago. 'Epstein’s lawyers synopsized and quoted Trump as saying that Jeffrey Epstein was not a member of his club at Mar-a-Lago. But he was a guest at Mar-a-Lago, and he had never been asked to leave,' Raskin said. 'I know it seems to be at odds with some things that President Trump has been saying recently about how he had kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of his club, or asked him to leave.'
Raskin expressed frustration over the timing of the file release, just days before Attorney General Pam Bondi's scheduled testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. 'There is no way before Attorney General Bondi arrives on Wednesday that we’re going to have the opportunity to go through every redaction in order to ask thorough questions,' he told reporters, suggesting the delay might hinder preparation.
The Epstein files have also rippled into the corporate world. Earlier this month, ExxonMobil dropped lawyers from the firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison after some attorneys' names surfaced in the documents. The company and the firm notified courts in Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, and Washington state that Paul Weiss would no longer represent Exxon in climate change accountability cases. Filings did not specify reasons, but the move followed scrutiny of firm chairman Brad Karp, who had email exchanges with Epstein, including one offering pro bono advice on a plea deal related to Epstein's solicitation of a minor. Karp, who led the firm for 18 years and built its relationship with Exxon, was removed from his leadership role last week due to 'recent distractions' but remains a partner. Paul Weiss attorneys will continue representing Exxon in a Massachusetts case.
Despite these developments, Republican lawmakers and Trump administration officials have not pursued accountability for those named in the files, including the president. This contrasts with private sector actions like Exxon's, prompting criticism from Democrats who argue for deeper investigations.
Beyond Epstein, the administration faces backlash over immigration enforcement. A leaked Department of Homeland Security memo, cited by CBS News on Monday, revealed that less than 14 percent of about 400,000 people arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2025 had prior convictions or charges for violent crimes. This challenges Trump's campaign pledge to target the 'worst of the worst,' as agents have detained U.S. citizens, children, and others to meet a daily quota of 3,000 arrests set by adviser Stephen Miller. Such actions have led to protests, economic disruptions in communities, and at least two killings of American citizens.
Conservatives have pushed back against the CBS report. Senator Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., posted on X that 'about 70 percent of illegal aliens deported have pending criminal charges OR prior convictions,' without citing a source, and argued that non-violent offenses like drug trafficking and human smuggling still pose threats. ICE's official X account echoed this, stating, 'Labeling these offenses as ‘non-violent’ does not mean they aren’t threats to public safety,' and listed examples including child pornography distribution and solicitation of a minor. The White House rapid response account dismissed the reporting as 'fake news,' declaring, 'They’re CRIMINALS and they’re NOT welcome here.'
Congressional gridlock persists over DHS funding, set to expire on February 13. Democrats have conditioned passage on 10 reforms for ICE, such as requiring agents to identify themselves, remove masks, and obtain warrants for private property entries. GOP leaders have called these demands 'impossible' and 'totally unrealistic,' stalling bipartisan agreement.
In a related legal move, the Justice Department on Monday filed a motion in federal court to help former Trump adviser Steve Bannon erase his conviction for defying a congressional subpoena. The filing seeks to vacate the 2022 contempt conviction, though details on the motion's arguments were not immediately available.
As these controversies unfold, the White House is urging calm amid slipping approval ratings. In a Monday article titled 'Don’t Be a Panican. We’re Winning—and We’re Not Slowing Down,' the administration claimed America is 'safer, stronger, richer, and more secure than at any point in decades,' dismissing media reports as bait from the 'Fake News and Radical Left.' Polls show growing unease, with a majority viewing Trump's first year as a failure, exacerbated by issues like rising grocery prices, a weak jobs market, and incidents involving Olympic athletes and musicians. The Dow Jones closed above 50,000 points last week, but economic anxieties persist despite promises to lower costs.
Looking ahead, Bondi's Wednesday testimony could intensify scrutiny on the DOJ's handling of the Epstein files and broader accountability efforts. Lawmakers like Raskin advocate for survivor testimonies and financial probes, while Republicans defend the administration's transparency. The impasse on immigration funding and ongoing file reviews signal prolonged debates over justice, enforcement, and governance in the Trump era.