U.S. lawmakers from both major parties reviewed unredacted Epstein documents this week under the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), enacted in November 2025. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) criticized unexplained redactions, stating, "There are names blanked out for no apparent reason." Republican Thomas Massie (R-KY) identified six redacted individuals "likely incriminated" by their inclusion, including a high-ranking foreign official.
Commerce Secretary Faces Resignation Calls
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed during a February 10 Senate hearing that he lunched with Jeffrey Epstein in 2012, contradicting earlier claims of severed ties. Newly released Justice Department records show business interactions continued until 2014, intensifying bipartisan demands for his resignation.
French Diplomat Named in Documents
France initiated judicial and administrative reviews after diplomat Fabrice Aidan's name appeared multiple times in the files. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot emphasized that inclusion "does not constitute proof of wrongdoing." Aidan, currently seconded to the private sector, has not been formally charged.
Legal Ambiguities Persist
Lawmakers highlighted discrepancies between EFTA's mandate for full transparency and pre-existing redactions by federal agencies. Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) noted, "Our law was very clear: unredact unless classified." The Justice Department has not yet commented on compliance timelines.
