Representative Ro Khanna played a central role in securing one of the largest disclosures of investigative records in modern US history with the passage of the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act last year. The law compelled the Justice Department to release millions of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Khanna, along with Republican Representative Thomas Massie, introduced the legislation, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump in November. The release has triggered a wave of resignations and investigations across business, politics, and international institutions, highlighting what Khanna describes as a long-overdue “moral reckoning” for the so-called “Epstein class” of powerful figures who believed themselves above the law.
Despite more than three million pages being made public, Khanna says substantial evidence remains hidden. Lawmakers and journalists have identified millions of additional documents still withheld or heavily redacted, including missing FBI interview summaries connected to allegations involving President Trump. “I have no idea on the merits, but I do believe that the problem is the cover-up,” Khanna said. “Why are they hiding these documents?”
Khanna said roughly half of the survivor statements submitted to the FBI remain unreleased. He criticized the Justice Department for citing privilege or survivor protection as reasons for withholding material, calling it protection of the predators instead. He added that legal action could compel the DOJ to comply with the law, including lawsuits in the Southern District of New York or future congressional subpoenas.
The California congressman said further review of the released documents is already exposing individuals who were aware of Epstein’s abuse yet continued business or personal relationships with him. He predicted additional revelations of complicity, trafficking, and sexual abuse as more records are examined.
Khanna urged that accountability extend to all members of the “Epstein class,” including world leaders, Hollywood figures, Wall Street executives, and tech industry elites. He called for congressional hearings and sworn testimony, emphasizing that even President Trump should appear before Congress to provide clarity on his association with Epstein.
“The files are revealing one of the biggest scandals in American history,” Khanna said. “This is a reckoning for people who thought they were untouchable. We need justice for survivors and a new generation of leaders untainted by the moral corruption at the heart of Epstein’s network.”
Khanna’s push highlights ongoing tensions between congressional oversight, the Justice Department, and the limits of transparency laws, as investigators, journalists, and lawmakers continue to sift through the unprecedented volume of material.
