The Epstein files are thousands of pages of documents related to two criminal investigations into sex trafficking by financier Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. These documents, which include travel logs, recordings, and emails, have been a topic of conversation since Epstein’s death in 2019. In November 2025, three emails, obtained from the Epstein estate, seemed to indicate that U.S. Pres. Donald Trump had knowledge of Epstein’s sex-trafficking practices. Trump has long denied any knowledge of Epstein’s misconduct. On November 18, the House voted 427–1 to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which the Senate also passed and the president signed.
On December 19, 2025, in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the Department of Justice released hundreds of thousands of documents. Those files included some never-before-seen photographs of former U.S. Pres. Bill Clinton and other celebrities but otherwise were heavily redacted, drawing criticism from Democratic and some Republican lawmakers as well as Epstein survivors. A subsequent release of some 30,000 pages of documents included mentions of Trump flying on Epstein’s plane in the 1990s. On January 30, 2026, the Justice Department released some three million more documents, saying that would be the last significant disclosure.HomePolitics, Law & GovernmentLaw, Crime & PunishmentCITE
When will the Epstein files be released?
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
June 15, 2026
On December 19, 2025, in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the Department of Justice released hundreds of thousands of documents. Those files included some never-before-seen photographs of former U.S. Pres. Bill Clinton and other celebrities but otherwise were heavily redacted, drawing criticism from Democratic and some Republican lawmakers as well as Epstein survivors. A subsequent release of some 30,000 pages of documents included mentions of Trump flying on Epstein’s plane in the 1990s. On January 30, 2026, three million more documents were released.
Information that will not be released is anything that:
• identifies survivors
• involves national security matters
• is subject to ongoing investigations
• involves explicit depictions of harm to children.HomePolitics, Law & GovernmentLaw, Crime & PunishmentCITE
Who are the six men named in the unredacted Epstein files?
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
June 15, 2026
In a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives on February 10, 2026, U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, read into the congressional record the names of six individuals whose identities had been revealed as part of the unredacting of the Epstein files. The presence of their names in the files is not indicative of wrongdoing, and the details of what relationships the men had with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein are unclear. Here are the names and what is known about them:
• Les Wexner: the billionaire retail magnate had a long-standing relationship with Epstein, who managed Wexner’s finances, which proved to be a key source of Epstein’s wealth.
• Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem: a Dubai-based businessman and the brother of the head of Formula 1 racing’s governing body, he and Epstein apparently exchanged emails that reference a “torture video.” In the wake of the revelations Dubai announced a new leader for the global logistics company DP World, which bin Sulayem had previously run.
• Nicola Caputa: possibly an Italian politician, although that is not clear.
• Salvatore Nuara: Nothing is known about this person and their possible connection to Epstein.
• Zurab Mikeladze: Nothing is known about this person and their possible connection to Epstein.
• Leonic Leonov: Nothing is known about this person and their possible connection to Epstein.HomePolitics, Law & GovernmentLaw, Crime & PunishmentCITE
Did Congress vote to release the Epstein files?
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
June 15, 2026
On November 18, 2025, the House voted 427–1 on the bill to release all the Epstein files. (Only Republican Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins voted “no.”) The Senate then unanimously agreed to send the legislation to U.S. Pres. Donald Trump for his signature. The action came days after Trump, faced with the likelihood that most Republicans would vote to release the files, ended his opposition, saying, “We have nothing to hide,” and calling the scandal a “Democrat hoax.” The president signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law the next day.
