In a historic move mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche released approximately 3.5 million pages of records on January 30, 2026.
The files, which include roughly 300 names of political and business elites, have sent shockwaves through the international community, even as the DOJ cautions that inclusion in the records is not evidence of criminal behavior.+1
1. The “Epstein List”: Notable Names and Context
The release identifies current and former leaders, celebrities, and tech moguls. While many references are passing or benign, some files provide new details on social and financial links.
| Category | Names Mentioned in the Files |
| Political Figures | Donald Trump (1,000+ mentions), Bill Clinton, Barack & Michelle Obama, Kamala Harris, Nancy Pelosi, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew (now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor). |
| Business/Tech | Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Sergey Brin, Les Wexner (Victoria’s Secret founder), Howard Lutnick (Commerce Secretary). |
| Entertainment | Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, Woody Allen, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger. |
| International | Narendra Modi (India), Ehud Barak (Israel), Keir Starmer (UK), Thorbjørn Jagland (Norway). |
Legal Status: British politician Peter Mandelson and former Norwegian PM Thorbjørn Jagland are among the few figures now facing active criminal investigations or ethics inquiries triggered by these specific disclosures.
2. The “Cover-Up” Allegations and Redaction Wars
Despite the massive document dump, the DOJ is under fire for its handling of sensitive information.
- “Mysterious Redactions”: Rep. Jamie Raskin, after viewing unredacted files at a secure DOJ facility, accused the department of “spectacular incompetence” or a deliberate cover-up. He noted that while victims’ names were accidentally exposed, the names of several “wealthy abusers” remained blacked out without clear legal justification.
- The “Photo Lineup” Blunder: Rep. Ro Khanna read six names on the House floor that he alleged were being hidden. The DOJ later claimed four of those men had no tie to Epstein and were only included in a “completely random” FBI photo lineup from years ago.+1
- Missing Data: Out of 6 million reviewed pages, only 3.5 million were released. Officials cite attorney-client privilege and the protection of minors for the withheld 2.5 million pages.+1
3. New Evidence: Videos and Emails
The 2026 release includes more than just text. It features 180,000 images and 2,000 videos, including:
- Self-Recorded Footage: Approximately 14 hours of footage recorded by Epstein himself, including clips of young women in private residences.
- The Prince Andrew Photos: Undated images reportedly showing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in compromising or “lewd” positions, which he continues to deny as having any criminal context.
- Email Facilitation: Draft emails alleging Bill Gates’ extramarital affairs and Howard Lutnick’s 2012 plans for a lunch gathering on Epstein’s private island—claims both parties have previously downplayed or denied.
4. Political Fallout for the Trump Administration
The release has created an awkward dynamic for President Trump, who signed the Transparency Act but recently suggested the country should “move on” from the files.
- Contradictory Statements: Files suggest Trump may have had more frequent social contact with Epstein than his previous “falling out” narrative suggested, including a 2009 legal memo regarding guest stays at Mar-a-Lago.
- Bondi’s Testimony: Attorney General Pam Bondi is scheduled for a high-stakes House Judiciary Committee hearing this week to address the “flawed” redaction process and the accidental exposure of nearly 100 survivors’ identities.