A Republican congresswoman says newly reviewed Epstein unredacted names could “shock the world” if Americans saw them.
Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina made the comments after reviewing unredacted files at the Department of Justice alongside other lawmakers. Her remarks come as both parties continue to debate how much of the Jeffrey Epstein records should be made public.
Lawmakers Review DOJ Files
The controversy follows the release of millions of pages of documents tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, requiring the Justice Department to disclose investigative records with limited redactions to protect victims.
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California recently read six previously redacted names into the Congressional Record after reviewing unredacted materials. Those names included Leslie Wexner, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Nicola Caputo, Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze, and Leonic Leonov.
Khanna said the public deserves to know why certain names were blacked out if they were not victims or minors.
Mace: “I Saw a Lot of Names”
Appearing on Katie Pavlich Tonight, Mace said she took detailed notes during her DOJ visit. “I saw a lot of names,” she said.
Mace claimed some names that remain redacted involve adult women who may have helped recruit young women for Epstein. She did not publicly release those names and did not provide evidence of criminal conduct. She emphasized that protecting victims, especially minors, must remain a priority.
“I’m very concerned as a survivor about protecting the personal information, the names of underage children,” Mace said. She added that some associations may not involve wrongdoing but still raise serious questions about judgment.
Dispute Over Redactions
The issue escalated during Attorney General Pam Bondi’s recent appearance before lawmakers. Mace and Rep. Thomas Massie questioned why certain names appeared unnecessarily redacted in earlier releases.
Bondi responded that any improper redactions were corrected quickly. Critics argued that changes only occurred after lawmakers raised concerns publicly.
The Department of Justice has not announced additional criminal charges connected to the newly released documents. Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Broader Fallout Continues
Epstein’s network of wealthy and influential associates has drawn scrutiny for years. Public records show he maintained relationships with political leaders, business executives, and celebrities.
Several individuals named in released documents have denied wrongdoing. Legal experts caution that appearing in records does not automatically imply criminal conduct.
For now, the fight over transparency continues on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers from both parties say they want answers, but they disagree on how much should be made public and how to balance transparency with privacy protections.
As pressure builds, the question remains whether more names will be revealed or whether legal and privacy concerns will slow additional disclosures.