Rep. Ro Khanna Calls Epstein Files Some Of The Biggest Cover-Ups In U.S. History After Six Men’s Names Redacted
Washington — Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California publicly named six men this week whose identities were initially blacked out in newly released Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The Justice Department later said some of the men were “completely random” individuals with no connection to Epstein.
Khanna read the names aloud on the House floor Tuesday, accusing the department of unnecessarily shielding “wealthy, powerful” figures when it released millions of pages of investigative records tied to the convicted sex offender.
The six men named by Khanna are billionaire Leslie Wexner, former Victoria’s Secret parent company executive; Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, former CEO of logistics firm DP World; and four lesser-known individuals: Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze, Leonic Leonov and Nicola Caputo.
Khanna did not accuse any of the six men of criminal wrongdoing. The documents reviewed by CBS News also do not appear to directly implicate them in crimes.
How the Names Surfaced
Khanna said he discovered the names Monday while reviewing unredacted versions of the Epstein files at a Justice Department office alongside Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky. The two lawmakers co-sponsored legislation last year requiring the department to release nearly all investigative records related to Epstein, with redactions permitted primarily to protect survivors’ identities.
After reviewing documents for several hours, the pair told reporters they located the six names in partially redacted records.
“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,” Khanna said on the House floor.
Late Monday, after Massie identified specific documents containing the names, the Justice Department partially removed the redactions.
The documents include:
A 2019 FBI document referring to Wexner as a “co-conspirator.”
Email correspondence between Epstein and bin Sulayem.
A list of 20 names that includes the four other individuals.
The context of the list is unclear, and it does not appear to contain allegations.
Justice Department Response
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche responded in a social media post Friday, stating that some of the named individuals were “completely random people selected years ago for an FBI lineup.”
“These individuals have NOTHING to do with Epstein or [associate Ghislaine] Maxwell,” Blanche wrote, criticizing Khanna and Massie for forcing the release of their names.
A Justice Department spokesperson said that given the volume of records — approximately 3.5 million pages — some redactions may have been applied inconsistently.
“With 3.5 million pages, the teams may have inadvertently redacted individuals or left those unredacted who should have been,” the spokesperson said.
The department noted that four of the six men appear only once in the files. Wexner appears nearly 200 times, while bin Sulayem’s name appears more than 4,700 times.
Reactions From Those Named
An attorney for Wexner told CBS News that a federal prosecutor informed Wexner in 2019 that he was viewed as a source of information and not a target. The statement said Wexner cooperated fully with investigators and was never charged with a crime. Wexner has previously stated he severed ties with Epstein after learning of his misconduct.
CBS News has sought comment from bin Sulayem and the other four individuals.
Khanna said in a post on X that the public deserves transparency about individuals named in the files, even if they are not accused of wrongdoing.
“If the other men are genuinely not connected to Epstein’s crimes, that too should be reported,” he wrote.
Ongoing Debate Over Redactions
Since the Epstein Files Transparency Act was signed into law in November, the Justice Department has released extensive records detailing investigations into Epstein and Maxwell. The documents reveal Epstein’s connections with high-profile individuals, though inclusion in the files does not imply criminal conduct.
The release process has drawn criticism from multiple directions. Some congressional Democrats argue the department over-redacted documents. At the same time, attorneys representing survivors say certain files were not properly redacted to protect victims’ identities.
The department says hundreds of lawyers reviewed the records to safeguard survivor information. In some cases, it has temporarily removed documents to correct redaction errors.
Concerns resurfaced this week after lawmakers were permitted to view unredacted versions in person. Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland said he observed “names of lots of people who were redacted for mysterious or baffling or inscrutable reasons.”
The dispute underscores the challenges of managing one of the largest document disclosures in Justice Department history, as lawmakers continue pressing for full transparency while officials balance privacy and legal considerations.
