US congressman reveals redacted names of 6 powerful figures in Epstein files
A US congressman has publicly named six wealthy and powerful figures he says were improperly redacted from documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna read the names on the floor of the House of Representatives, arguing that the American public deserves full transparency about the Epstein files.
The six men he named are Les Wexner, founder of Victoria’s Secret; Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, CEO of Dubai-based DP World; Salvatore Nuara; Zurab Mikeladze; Leonic Leonov; and Nicola Caputo.
Khanna said he and Republican Congressman Thomas Massie reviewed unredacted Epstein records during a visit to the US Department of Justice. He claimed that between 70 and 80 percent of the files remain blacked out, despite a law requiring most of the material to be released.
“Why did it take us going to the Justice Department to get these names public?” Khanna asked during his remarks, suggesting more information may still be hidden.
The files were released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law last year. The law allows redactions mainly to protect the identities of victims.
Massie later said that appearing in the files does not prove anyone committed a crime. He noted that inclusion in investigative documents does not automatically mean guilt.
The Justice Department has defended its handling of the records. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department has unredacted all non-victim names and is committed to transparency.
Jeffrey Epstein was convicted in 2008 of procuring a minor for prostitution and was later arrested again in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. He died in a New York jail while awaiting trial.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
