Ro Khanna Is Shaken by What He’s Learned From the Epstein Files

In a dramatic move on the House floor, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna publicly named six wealthy, powerful men whose identities were initially redacted from the Jeffrey Epstein files, exposing what he sees as a Justice Department cover-up in the sprawling 3.5 million-page trove.[1][3] Partnering with Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, Khanna’s review of unredacted documents has left him demanding full transparency, accusing the Trump administration of flouting the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act they co-sponsored last year.[2][4]

The House Floor Revelation

On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, Khanna stood before Congress and read aloud the names: billionaire Leslie Wexner, former Victoria’s Secret owner and Epstein’s longtime financial client; Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, ex-CEO of Dubai-based DP World; and four others—Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze, Leonic Leonov, and Nicola Caputo.[1][3] These individuals appeared in redacted sections of Epstein-related files, which Khanna and Massie uncovered during a brief two-hour session at a DOJ facility.[3]

Khanna didn’t mince words: “Why did it take Thomas Massie and me going to the Justice Department to get these six men’s identities to become public? And if we found six men that they were hiding in two hours, imagine how many men they are covering up for in those 3 million files.”[1][3] He framed this as a direct violation of the law mandating minimal redactions—limited to protecting survivors’ identities—after President Trump signed the act in November 2025.[2][3]

The names entered the Congressional Record under the Speech or Debate Clause, shielding the lawmakers from potential lawsuits.[1] Massie amplified this on social media, noting Wexner was labeled a “coconspirator” in a 2019 FBI document tied to child sex trafficking, while bin Sulayem’s email was linked to a “torture video” reference.[1] One unnamed figure is reportedly “pretty high up” in a foreign government.[2]

DOJ’s Defense and Pushback

The Justice Department partially unredacted the files post-review, complying with some demands but insisting many redactions were inadvertent amid the massive volume.[3] A spokesperson told CBS News that four names appear only once, Wexner is mentioned nearly 200 times, and bin Sulayem over 4,700 times—yet inclusion doesn’t prove wrongdoing.[3]

Wexner’s team fired back, stating a 2019 U.S. Attorney assured his counsel he was a source of information on Epstein, not a target, and he cooperated fully without further contact.[1] Epstein attorney David Blanche echoed this, calling the six “completely random” with “NOTHING to do with Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell.”[3] Khanna countered on X that the public deserves to know about men in the files “for other reasons but genuinely not connected to Epstein.”[3]

Massie clarified to reporters: “Appearing in the Epstein files does not prove guilt,” but stressed ongoing redactions in FBI and grand jury materials violate the law.[1][2] Both lawmakers noted incomplete access, with strike-throughs persisting.[2]

Khanna’s Broader Outrage

Khanna’s actions stem from deep frustration with DOJ foot-dragging. In a BBC interview days earlier, he lambasted the Trump administration and DOJ for “slowing off this process,” calling it “not transparency” or “justice.”[4] He highlighted FBI redactions from March 2025—allegedly at Trump’s direction—that remain even in congressional versions, urging judicial intervention to “unscrub” them.[4]

The co-sponsors argue career attorneys aren’t malicious but lack full production, as the act requires unredacted FBI and grand jury docs.[2] Khanna has pressed House Judiciary leaders and plans further steps, including court challenges.[4][5]

This isn’t Khanna’s first push. His office recently sent letters ahead of Ghislaine Maxwell’s deposition, signaling sustained oversight.[5] Public support aligns with survivors demanding accountability for Epstein’s network, which ensnared elites worldwide.[4]

Implications for Power and Accountability

Khanna’s revelations cast a long shadow over influential figures. Wexner hired Epstein to manage his fortune, fostering a close tie despite later disavowing him.[1][3] Bin Sulayem’s frequent mentions raise questions about international connections.[3] The four lesser-known names—a list of 20 without clear context—underscore the files’ opacity.[3]

Critics like Blanche accuse Khanna and Massie of sensationalism, but the bipartisan duo’s threat to name more names forced DOJ action.[1][2] With millions of pages unreleased or redacted, Khanna warns of systemic protection for the powerful.[1][3]

This saga tests the Epstein Files Transparency Act‘s teeth. Signed amid bipartisan outrage, it aimed to expose Epstein’s web beyond his 2019 death and Maxwell’s conviction.[3] Yet DOJ’s pace frustrates lawmakers and victims’ advocates.

Khanna’s shaken demeanor—evident in his floor speech and interviews—reflects a broader crisis of trust in institutions.[1][4] “The public is overwhelmingly siding with the survivors,” he told BBC, vowing to fight until full disclosure.[4]

As scrutiny intensifies, will more names surface? Khanna and Massie signal yes, potentially upending lives and legacies. For now, their House floor stand marks a pivotal blow against secrecy in one of America’s darkest scandals.

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Original source: The New York Times – Ro Khanna Is Shaken by What He’s Learned From the Epstein Files