The Justice Department has sent Congress a six-page letter defending its redactions in the newly released Jeffrey Epstein files and included a list of names it says appear in the documents.
The letter, addressed to leaders of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, outlines “all government officials and politically exposed persons” referenced in the material tied to Jeffrey Epstein and associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
According to the DOJ, the names appear in “a wide variety of contexts,” ranging from individuals who exchanged emails directly with Epstein or Maxwell to people mentioned in media reports or third-party documents without any interaction.
The department did not specify how or why each name appears in the files, a move that quickly sparked criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) blasted Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, arguing that the list “doesn’t make sense.”
Greene pointed to the inclusion of singer Janis Joplin, who died in 1970, when Epstein would have been a teenager.
Other unexpected names reportedly included Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley.
The files also reference high-profile political figures such as former President Bill Clinton and President Donald Trump.
Greene noted that her own name appears in the documents despite the fact that she was not elected to Congress until 2020, a year after Epstein’s death.
“My mentions in the files are basically stories unrelated to Epstein,” she wrote, suggesting they stem from news articles about her political positions rather than any connection to the financier.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) echoed concerns, arguing that the lack of explanation risks blurring distinctions between individuals who were directly involved and those merely referenced.
“The DOJ is once again purposefully muddying the waters on who was a predator and who was mentioned in an email,” Khanna wrote.
Critics say placing figures such as Joplin alongside convicted abusers like Larry Nassar without context creates confusion.
The DOJ defended its redactions, citing privacy concerns, ongoing investigations, and the need to protect victims, per the New York Post.
However, the absence of detailed explanations for each name has fueled bipartisan frustration.
Lawmakers argue that transparency requires not only releasing names but also clarifying the nature of each reference.
The letter represents the latest chapter in the long-running fallout from the Epstein case, which continues to ripple through politics, media, and law enforcement years after his 2019 death in federal custody.
As pressure mounts, Congress may push for additional disclosures or hearings to determine whether the department’s approach strikes the right balance between transparency and fairness.
