Justice Department sends Congress list of prominent figures named in Epstein investigation files

The U.S. Department of Justice has sent Congress a list identifying hundreds of prominent individuals whose names appear in files tied to investigations involving convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

According to a six-page letter obtained by CNN, the document identifies what officials call “politically exposed persons” found across millions of pages of investigative material. The list includes presidents, cultural figures, business leaders, and government officials. However, the DOJ emphasized that the names were compiled regardless of context and do not indicate the nature or extent of any connection to Epstein.

Officials also noted that being named in the files does not imply wrongdoing. Epstein and his accomplice Ghislane Maxwell remain the only individuals charged in connection with his crimes.

The letter, signed by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, was sent to senior members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. The DOJ was required to produce the list under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, legislation passed by Congress to expand public access to records connected to the investigation.

Reaction on Capitol Hill has been swift. Representative Ro Khanna, a co-author of the law, criticized the Justice Department, accusing it of blurring the distinction between individuals directly linked to misconduct and those mentioned in routine communications. Meanwhile, Representative Nancy Mace, who has advocated for Epstein’s victims, argued that key names may still be missing from the disclosures.

The Justice Department said some material remains redacted for legal reasons, including privileged communications and internal deliberations that extend beyond the law’s minimum requirements.

The release of the list is expected to intensify scrutiny of both the investigative record and the government’s handling of Epstein-related information.

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