The files were only released after Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November, which required the department to release all its files relating to the dead convicted pedophile – with only limited redactions to protect the identities of victims.
However, many of the names blacked-out by the DOJ are not those of victims, something Raskin was able to confirm after viewing the uncensored files on Monday.
He said: « I was able to determine, at least I believe, that there were tons of completely unnecessary redactions, in addition to the failure to redact the names of victims, and so that was troubling to us.”
Raskin added: « I saw the names of lots of people, who were redacted for mysterious or baffling or inscrutable reasons. » Those included former Victoria’s Secret CEO Les Wexner, who helped kickstart Epstein’s wealth and whose association with him has long been public.“You read through these files, and you read about 15-year-old girls, 14-year-old girls, 10-year-old girls,” Raskin told the Daily Mail. “I saw a mention of a nine-year-old girl today. I mean, this is just preposterous and scandalous.”
The Maryland congressman was joined at the DOJ by Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep. Thomas Massie, who have led the charge in the house for full transparency over the files. After the viewing the files, they decided to reveal six names that had been redacted.
One was Wexner, another was Italian politician Nicola Caputo, and Dubai-based shipping magnate Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem was also named. The other three are unknown individuals – Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze and Leonic Leonov.
