Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates denied ever harming anyone and expressed regret over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as he appeared before the House Oversight Committee for a closed-door interview on Wednesday.&nbsp;The billionaire philanthropist was questioned by lawmakers about his relationship with Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving underage girls.&nbsp;In prepared remarks released as the hearing began, Gates said he never witnessed any criminal conduct by Epstein and had no indication that such activity was taking place. "I never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct," Gates said.&nbsp;The former Microsoft chief also sought to distance himself from Epstein and denied any wrongdoing. "I never went to his island, his ranch, or his Florida home. I have never victimised anyone."&nbsp;The 69-year-old acknowledged that meeting Epstein had been a mistake and apologised for any credibility his association may have given the disgraced financier.&nbsp;"I should never have met with Epstein in the first place," he said, adding, “If the time I spent with Epstein lent him any credibility, I am deeply sorry.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-it-struck-two-ships-in-strait-of-hormuz-warns-all-vessel-traffic-will-be-targeted-1781135032382">Iran hits American bases in Bahrain, Kuwait; declares Hormuz fully closed in retaliation for fresh US strikes</a><h2>What Gates revealed during the hearing</h2>Gates said Epstein had access to sensitive details about his personal life, including the fact that he had been unfaithful during his marriage. However, he rejected allegations linked to a 2013 draft email in which Epstein appeared to suggest he had helped manage fallout from extramarital affairs, describing the email as fake and denying the claims.&nbsp;He also said Epstein attempted to use personal information and false claims to pressure him into resuming contact. "He was unsuccessful in this effort, but it shows some of the ways he tried to leverage his interactions with me to further his agenda."&nbsp;The philanthropist said he now believes Epstein sought relationships with prominent and respected individuals to project legitimacy and improve his public image.&nbsp;He said Epstein wanted to build "an image of legitimacy" through ties to powerful and reputable people.&nbsp;Gates also accepted that he had increasingly extensive conversations and meetings about charitable giving with Epstein from 2011 to 2014. But he said no vehicle for donations was created, no money was raised, and their interactions ended in December 2014.&nbsp;The Microsoft co-founder also stressed that appearing in Epstein-related documents should not be viewed as evidence of criminal conduct.&nbsp;Following the hearing, Republican Congressman Tim Burchett said Gates appeared "well coached" and suggested he had provided little new information. However, committee Democrat Robert Garcia said the businessman had been cooperative and had shared information about other people connected to Epstein.

The former Microsoft chief distanced himself from Jeffrey Epstein, stating that he had never visited Epstein's island, ranch or Florida home, and denied any involvement in wrongdoing.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates denied ever harming anyone and expressed regret over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as he appeared before the House Oversight Committee for a closed-door interview on Wednesday. The billionaire philanthropist was questioned by lawmakers about his relationship with Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving underage girls. In prepared remarks released as the hearing began, Gates said he never witnessed any criminal conduct by Epstein and had no indication that such activity was taking place. "I never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct," Gates said. The former Microsoft chief also sought to distance himself from Epstein and denied any wrongdoing. "I never went to his island, his ranch, or his Florida home. I have never victimised anyone." The 69-year-old acknowledged that meeting Epstein had been a mistake and apologised for any credibility his association may have given the disgraced financier. "I should never have met with Epstein in the first place," he said, adding, “If the time I spent with Epstein lent him any credibility, I am deeply sorry.” Also Read: Iran hits American bases in Bahrain, Kuwait; declares Hormuz fully closed in retaliation for fresh US strikes What Gates revealed during the hearing Gates said Epstein had access to sensitive details about his personal life, including the fact that he had been unfaithful during his marriage. However, he rejected allegations linked to a 2013 draft email in which Epstein appeared to suggest he had helped manage fallout from extramarital affairs, describing the email as fake and denying the claims. He also said Epstein attempted to use personal information and false claims to pressure him into resuming contact. "He was unsuccessful in this effort, but it shows some of the ways he tried to leverage his interactions with me to further his agenda." The philanthropist said he now believes Epstein sought relationships with prominent and respected individuals to project legitimacy and improve his public image. He said Epstein wanted to build "an image of legitimacy" through ties to powerful and reputable people. Gates also accepted that he had increasingly extensive conversations and meetings about charitable giving with Epstein from 2011 to 2014. But he said no vehicle for donations was created, no money was raised, and their interactions ended in December 2014. The Microsoft co-founder also stressed that appearing in Epstein-related documents should not be viewed as evidence of criminal conduct. Following the hearing, Republican Congressman Tim Burchett said Gates appeared "well coached" and suggested he had provided little new information. However, committee Democrat Robert Garcia said the businessman had been cooperative and had shared information about other people connected to Epstein.

The former Microsoft chief distanced himself from Jeffrey Epstein, stating that he had never visited Epstein's island, ranch or Florida home, and denied any involvement in wrongdoing.

Bill Gates 'deeply sorry' for Epstein ties; Here's what he revealed to lawmakers during closed door hearing

Former US Attorney General Pam Bondi has said that Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Justice Department, was the official responsible for overseeing the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files, according to newly released congressional testimony. The remarks were made during a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee last month, transcripts of which were made public on Thursday (Jun 4).<h2>What did Bondi say?</h2>During the questioning, Bondi repeatedly sought to distance herself from the Justice Department's handling of the highly sensitive Epstein records, a matter that has generated controversy throughout Trump's second term.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/trump-strikes-again-attacks-another-journalist-with-bizarre-comment-hatred-in-her-eyes-1780554898613">Trump strikes again, attacks another journalist with bizarre comment: 'Hatred in her eyes'</a>"He was in charge of the process and the entire release of the Epstein files," Bondi told lawmakers when asked about the department's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. According to her testimony, the Justice Department has already released roughly three million documents, while another three million records remain under review or unreleased.Her comments place Blanche at the centre of one of the Trump administration's most politically charged controversies just as he prepares for what is expected to be a difficult Senate confirmation process. Democrats have already pointed to Bondi's testimony as evidence that Blanche should personally explain his role in the handling of the Epstein records.<h2>Is DoJ withholding Epstein files?</h2>Bondi insisted the department was not withholding material, arguing that the remaining files largely consist of duplicates or documents protected by legal privilege.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/whose-cocaine-was-it-hunter-biden-sarcastic-response-to-white-house-narcotics-accusation-goes-viral-i-d-never-forget-my-drugs-joe-biden-west-wing-1780562403574">Whose cocaine was it? Hunter Biden sarcastic response to White House narcotics accusation goes viral: 'I'd never forget my drugs'</a>Bondi also addressed criticism over her widely discussed 2025 television interview, in which she claimed the alleged Epstein "client list" was sitting on her desk. The statement fuelled speculation that explosive new disclosures were imminent. However, she later clarified that she had been referring to the broader Epstein case file and not to any specific client list. During her testimony, Bondi again insisted her comments had been misunderstood.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi told lawmakers that Todd Blanche oversaw the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files, placing Trump's DOJ nominee at the centre of a growing controversy. Here's all you need to know.

Former US Attorney General Pam Bondi has said that Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Justice Department, was the official responsible for overseeing the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files, according to newly released congressional testimony. The remarks were made during a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee last month, transcripts of which were made public on Thursday (Jun 4). What did Bondi say? During the questioning, Bondi repeatedly sought to distance herself from the Justice Department's handling of the highly sensitive Epstein records, a matter that has generated controversy throughout Trump's second term. Also read | Trump strikes again, attacks another journalist with bizarre comment: 'Hatred in her eyes' "He was in charge of the process and the entire release of the Epstein files," Bondi told lawmakers when asked about the department's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. According to her testimony, the Justice Department has already released roughly three million documents, while another three million records remain under review or unreleased. Her comments place Blanche at the centre of one of the Trump administration's most politically charged controversies just as he prepares for what is expected to be a difficult Senate confirmation process. Democrats have already pointed to Bondi's testimony as evidence that Blanche should personally explain his role in the handling of the Epstein records. Is DoJ withholding Epstein files? Bondi insisted the department was not withholding material, arguing that the remaining files largely consist of duplicates or documents protected by legal privilege. Also read | Whose cocaine was it? Hunter Biden sarcastic response to White House narcotics accusation goes viral: 'I'd never forget my drugs' Bondi also addressed criticism over her widely discussed 2025 television interview, in which she claimed the alleged Epstein "client list" was sitting on her desk. The statement fuelled speculation that explosive new disclosures were imminent. However, she later clarified that she had been referring to the broader Epstein case file and not to any specific client list. During her testimony, Bondi again insisted her comments had been misunderstood.

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi told lawmakers that Todd Blanche oversaw the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files, placing Trump's DOJ nominee at the centre of a growing controversy. Here's all you need to know.

'He was in charge': Pam Bondi REVEALS who was really behind the botched Epstein files release

Juliette Bryant, a Jeffrey Epstein survivor, has hit out at US First Lady Melania Trump over her recent statement denying all ties to the sexual offender and paedophile. Slamming Melania's demand for survivors to testify under oath, Bryant, in a fiery video she posted on X, said "MANY VICTIMS WHO TESTIFIED HAVE DIED," as she called on the FLOTUS and her husband, US President Donald Trump, to testify instead. "IT’S YOUR TURN TO TESTIFY NOW…" she said. In her statement, Melania denied ever having a relationship with Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, disputed reports that Epstein had introduced her to Trump, called out what she described as fabricated images circulating on social media, and urged Congress to hold public hearings where Epstein's victims could testify under oath. "The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," she said. &nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/epstein-survivors-accuse-melania-trump-of-shifting-the-burden-push-back-on-call-for-congressional-hearings-we-ve-done-our-part-1775873457843">Epstein survivors accuse Melania Trump of 'shifting the burden,' push back on call for congressional hearings: 'We've done our part'</a><h2>Bryant's message to Melania Trump</h2>In a video message, Bryant identified herself as an Epstein survivor and said, "You want girls to testify under oath, well here I am testifying that everything I said is true. Unfortunately, a lot of the girls who testified died."She then called on Melania to testify, saying, "Maybe it’s time that you and your husband testify too."Watch what she said here:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">HELLO MELANIA TRUMP HERE I AM TESTIFYING UNDER OATH MANY VICTIMS WHO TESTIFIED HAVE DIED IT’S YOUR TURN TO TESTIFY NOW… <a href="https://t.co/xecj3OmKGr">pic.twitter.com/xecj3OmKGr</a>&mdash; EPSTEIN SURVIVOR - JULIETTE ROSE BRYANT🌈❤️⚔️ (@JulietteBryant) <a href="https://twitter.com/JulietteBryant/status/2042969886339559654?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Did Epstein survivors actually die after testifying against the paedophile?</h2>At least two Epstein survivors have died after they gave testimony against Epstein. However, it is not known if their deaths and their testimonies are interlinked.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fact-check-did-macron-post-a-video-of-jeffrey-epstein-kissing-melania-trump-truth-behind-the-viral-clip-1775806317213">FACT CHECK: Did Macron post a video of Jeffrey Epstein kissing Melania Trump? Truth behind the viral clip</a>Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent Epstein survivors, died in April 2025, purportedly by suicide. Notably, in 2019, Guiffre in a statement on Twitter (now X), explicitly declared that she was "in no way, shape or form" suicidal. She said so while responding to a user's claim that the FBI might target her to protect well-connected figures.Another Epstein survivor, Carolyn Andriano, whose testimony proved crucial during the 2021 trial of Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell, died in May 2023 in a Florida hotel. Her death was ruled an accidental drug overdose.&nbsp;<h3>Disclaimer: WION is only reporting the names that have been mentioned in the Epstein files and is not accusing anyone of any wrongdoing. Readers are advised to use their discretion on this article. &nbsp;</h3>&nbsp;

Why is an Epstein survivor now directly challenging the Trumps? Juliette Bryant hit back at Melania Trump, saying victims have already testified—and now it’s time for her and Donald Trump to do the same. Watch video HERE

Juliette Bryant, a Jeffrey Epstein survivor, has hit out at US First Lady Melania Trump over her recent statement denying all ties to the sexual offender and paedophile. Slamming Melania's demand for survivors to testify under oath, Bryant, in a fiery video she posted on X, said "MANY VICTIMS WHO TESTIFIED HAVE DIED," as she called on the FLOTUS and her husband, US President Donald Trump, to testify instead. "IT’S YOUR TURN TO TESTIFY NOW…" she said. In her statement, Melania denied ever having a relationship with Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, disputed reports that Epstein had introduced her to Trump, called out what she described as fabricated images circulating on social media, and urged Congress to hold public hearings where Epstein's victims could testify under oath. "The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," she said. Also read | Epstein survivors accuse Melania Trump of 'shifting the burden,' push back on call for congressional hearings: 'We've done our part' Bryant's message to Melania Trump In a video message, Bryant identified herself as an Epstein survivor and said, "You want girls to testify under oath, well here I am testifying that everything I said is true. Unfortunately, a lot of the girls who testified died." She then called on Melania to testify, saying, "Maybe it’s time that you and your husband testify too." Watch what she said here:

Why is an Epstein survivor now directly challenging the Trumps? Juliette Bryant hit back at Melania Trump, saying victims have already testified—and now it’s time for her and Donald Trump to do the same. Watch video HERE

Fact Check: 'MANY VICTIMS WHO TESTIFIED HAVE DIED'? Epstein survivor Juliette Bryant’s viral claim vs. Melania Trump | Watch

US First Lady Melania Trump on Thursday (Apr 9) shocked the world with a public statement denying any linkages with sex offender, paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. In a televised address, the FLOTUS denied any meaningful relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. She insisted that she "never had" any relationship with the sex offenders and said that she had "no knowledge" of Epstein's criminal activity when they met. Soon after, the internet erupted with conspiracy theories about the timing of Melania's address. Internet sleuths claim that the bombshell statement may be the FLOTUS "getting ahead" of a big scandal. Here's all you need to know.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-wow-what-a-hot-piece-of-a-melania-trump-denies-epstein-and-maxwell-ties-but-these-emails-complicate-that-story-fact-check-1775783396467">'Wow, what a hot piece of a**': Melania Trump denies Epstein and Maxwell ties, but THESE emails complicate that story | FACT CHECK</a>&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION is only reporting the names that have been mentioned in the Epstein files and is not accusing anyone of any wrongdoing. Readers are advised to use their discretion on this article.<h2>What did Melania Trump say about Epstein and Maxwell?</h2>The First Lady unequivocally said that "the lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today." She noted that "fake images and statements" about her and Epstein had been spreading on social media for years. Melania also denied that Epstein had introduced her to Donald Trump and claimed that she met her husband two years before she ever encountered Epstein. Reports suggest that the two met independently in September 1998 at a New York Fashion Week party at the Kit Kat Club in Manhattan, hosted by Paolo Zampolli.She also stated she had never been on Epstein's plane, never visited his private island, did not know about his abuse of victims, and was never involved "in any capacity." On Maxwell, she said she had no relationship with her either.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">First Lady Melania Trump’s Statement <a href="https://t.co/fSEz24NEyg">pic.twitter.com/fSEz24NEyg</a>&mdash; First Lady Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/2042330778483270008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What are they trying to hide?</h2>While Melania did not specify what prompted the statement or which particular allegations she was responding to, the internet has some theories. Users online speculated that the FLOTUS was trying to "get ahead" of a bigger scandal.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fact-check-did-macron-post-a-video-of-jeffrey-epstein-kissing-melania-trump-truth-behind-the-viral-clip-1775806317213">FACT CHECK: Did Macron post a video of Jeffrey Epstein kissing Melania Trump? Truth behind the viral clip</a>"I think the reason Melania is getting ahead of it is Amanda Ungaro, model, Epstein survivor, &amp; mother of a child shared w P. Zampoli (who was part of introducing M to Trump at Kit Kat club) is now publicly calling her out. Zampoli also called ICE on Amanda &amp; had her deported," said one user posting screenshots of posts by a X account by the name Amanda Ungaro.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I think the reason Melania is getting ahead of it is Amanda Ungaro, model, Epstein survivor, & mother of a child shared w P. Zampoli, (who was part of introducing M to Trump at Kit Kat club) is now publicly calling her out. Zampoli also called ICE on Amanda & had her deported👀👇 <a href="https://t.co/fIjdxUdNub">https://t.co/fIjdxUdNub</a> <a href="https://t.co/5jExnmv5j0">pic.twitter.com/5jExnmv5j0</a>— Susan♀️🇺🇦 (@ifudontlike2bad) <a href="https://twitter.com/ifudontlike2bad/status/2042439341176459299?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Brazilian model has previously claimed knowledge of Epstein's murky dealings. Ungaro, who has a son with Italian businessman Paolo Zampolli, the man at whose September 1998, New York Fashion Week party at the Kit Kat Club in Manhattan Melania and Donald Trump reportedly met.Political analyst Ahmed Baba speculated that something big may be "about to drop". On X, he wrote, “This was so random. To my knowledge, there was no notable discourse recently about Melania’s ties to Epstein. All eyes have been on the Iran war. What prompted this? Is something about to drop? Seems to me the First Lady just injected Epstein back into the news cycle unprompted.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This was so random. To my knowledge, there was no notable discourse recently about Melania's ties to Epstein. All eyes have been on the Iran War. What prompted this? Is something about to drop? Seems to me the First Lady just injected Epstein back into the news cycle unprompted. <a href="https://t.co/MBcUhW84yK">https://t.co/MBcUhW84yK</a>— Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) <a href="https://twitter.com/AhmedBaba_/status/2042313752616329625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Gabe Fleshier, the journalist behind Wake Up To Politics, echoed the confusion, saying “Who at the White House thought it was a good idea to resurrect the Epstein story right now? Or did FLOTUS just want to say this, and no one could overrule her?”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I’m so confused by this. Who at the White House thought it was a good idea to resurrect the Epstein story right now? Or did FLOTUS just want to say this, and no one could overrule her? Was anybody talking about Epstein and Melania in the last few days before this? Is this an… <a href="https://t.co/Z1gaSxbW9X">https://t.co/Z1gaSxbW9X</a>— Gabe Fleisher (@WakeUp2Politics) <a href="https://twitter.com/WakeUp2Politics/status/2042314932595704009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Why did Melania Trump break her silence on Epstein now? After the FLOTUS firmly denied any links to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, online speculation exploded over the timing.

Is this damage control or coincidence? Scroll down to read more.

US First Lady Melania Trump on Thursday (Apr 9) shocked the world with a public statement denying any linkages with sex offender, paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. In a televised address, the FLOTUS denied any meaningful relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. She insisted that she "never had" any relationship with the sex offenders and said that she had "no knowledge" of Epstein's criminal activity when they met. Soon after, the internet erupted with conspiracy theories about the timing of Melania's address. Internet sleuths claim that the bombshell statement may be the FLOTUS "getting ahead" of a big scandal. Here's all you need to know. Also read | 'Wow, what a hot piece of a**': Melania Trump denies Epstein and Maxwell ties, but THESE emails complicate that story | FACT CHECK Disclaimer: WION is only reporting the names that have been mentioned in the Epstein files and is not accusing anyone of any wrongdoing. Readers are advised to use their discretion on this article. What did Melania Trump say about Epstein and Maxwell? The First Lady unequivocally said that "the lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today." She noted that "fake images and statements" about her and Epstein had been spreading on social media for years. Melania also denied that Epstein had introduced her to Donald Trump and claimed that she met her husband two years before she ever encountered Epstein. Reports suggest that the two met independently in September 1998 at a New York Fashion Week party at the Kit Kat Club in Manhattan, hosted by Paolo Zampolli. She also stated she had never been on Epstein's plane, never visited his private island, did not know about his abuse of victims, and was never involved "in any capacity." On Maxwell, she said she had no relationship with her either.

Why did Melania Trump break her silence on Epstein now? After the FLOTUS firmly denied any links to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, online speculation exploded over the timing.Is this damage control or coincidence? Scroll down to read more.

White House trying to get ahead of a big scandal? Internet erupts with conspiracy theories as Melania Trump denies ties with Epstein, Maxwell

US First Lady Melania Trump, in a public statement on Thursday (Apr 9), denied any meaningful relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. She insisted that she "never had" any relationship with the sex offenders and said that she had "no knowledge" of Epstein's criminal activity when they met. However, within hours of her surprise statement, a 2002 email released in the Justice Department's final tranche of Epstein documents was circulating widely online, raising questions about at least one of those claims. Here's a fact check.&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION is only reporting the names that have been mentioned in the Epstein files and is not accusing anyone of any wrongdoing. Readers are advised to use their discretion on this article.<h3>What Melania Trump said</h3>The First Lady was unequivocal. "The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," she said, adding that "fake images and statements" about her and Epstein had been spreading on social media for years. She denied that Epstein had introduced her to Donald Trump and claimed that she met her husband two years before she ever encountered Epstein. Reports suggest that the two met independently in September 1998 at a New York Fashion Week party at the Kit Kat Club in Manhattan, hosted by Paolo Zampolli.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/artemis-ii-astronauts-stuck-pooping-in-special-bags-after-23-million-toilet-gets-clogged-1775713143337">Artemis II: Astronauts stuck using 'special bags' as $23 million toilet gets clogged</a>She also stated she had never been on Epstein's plane, never visited his private island, did not know about his abuse of victims, and was never involved "in any capacity." On Maxwell, she said she had no relationship with her either.Melania did not specify what prompted the statement or which particular allegations she was responding to, though photographs of Donald and Melania Trump alongside Epstein and Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago have circulated for years. She also called on Congress to hold public hearings allowing Epstein's survivors to testify under oath.<h2>Internet fact check's Melania's 'never had' a relationship with Epstein or Maxwell claim</h2>Almost immediately after the statement went public, users online pointed to a document from the Justice Department's Epstein file release: a 2002 email addressed to "Dear G", widely interpreted as Ghislaine Maxwell, with the sender's identity redacted.The email reads: "Dear G! How are you? Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great on the picture. I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY. Have a great time! Love, Melania."The tone, "dear G," a request to call, and the sign-off "love" struck many as inconsistent with Melania's claim of having no relationship with Maxwell.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260410/image-1775783790660.png"></figure>It must be noted that the sender's ID in the email is blacked out. It has not been independently verified that the email was sent by Melania Trump rather than some other Melania. No official attribution has been confirmed.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pam-bondi-subpoenaed-house-oversight-committee-forces-trump-s-ag-to-testify-on-doj-s-alleged-epstein-files-cover-up-bipartisan-vote-1772688470568">Pam Bondi subpoenaed: House oversight committee forces Trump's AG to testify on DOJ's alleged Epstein files 'cover-up'</a><h2>A damning second email emerges</h2>A separate email is also making the rounds on X. The email is addressed to Jeffrey Epstein's Gmail account and is dated November 9, 2016, coincidentally the day after Trump's first presidential election victory.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260410/image-1775783828341.png"></figure>The sender, also redacted, writes about being surprised by the result and then adds: "I remember flying back with Donald on his plane the first weekend I went to visit you in Florida was the weekend he met Melania, and he kept on coming out of the bedroom saying 'wow what a hot piece of ass.'"The email, if authentic, could potentially contradict the account of how Trump and Melania met, though again, the sender's identity is unverified.<h2>So, did Epstein introduce the POTUS and FLOTUS?</h2>If rumours are to be believed, yes. However, for now, Melania insists, "Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump".&nbsp;&nbsp;

Did Melania Trump really have “no relationship” with Epstein or Maxwell? After the FLOTUS denied any links to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, resurfaced emails have sparked fresh questions online. Coincidence, misidentification, or contradiction?

Scroll down for the fact check.

US First Lady Melania Trump, in a public statement on Thursday (Apr 9), denied any meaningful relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. She insisted that she "never had" any relationship with the sex offenders and said that she had "no knowledge" of Epstein's criminal activity when they met. However, within hours of her surprise statement, a 2002 email released in the Justice Department's final tranche of Epstein documents was circulating widely online, raising questions about at least one of those claims. Here's a fact check. Disclaimer: WION is only reporting the names that have been mentioned in the Epstein files and is not accusing anyone of any wrongdoing. Readers are advised to use their discretion on this article. What Melania Trump said The First Lady was unequivocal. "The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," she said, adding that "fake images and statements" about her and Epstein had been spreading on social media for years. She denied that Epstein had introduced her to Donald Trump and claimed that she met her husband two years before she ever encountered Epstein. Reports suggest that the two met independently in September 1998 at a New York Fashion Week party at the Kit Kat Club in Manhattan, hosted by Paolo Zampolli. Also read | Artemis II: Astronauts stuck using 'special bags' as $23 million toilet gets clogged She also stated she had never been on Epstein's plane, never visited his private island, did not know about his abuse of victims, and was never involved "in any capacity." On Maxwell, she said she had no relationship with her either. Melania did not specify what prompted the statement or which particular allegations she was responding to, though photographs of Donald and Melania Trump alongside Epstein and Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago have circulated for years. She also called on Congress to hold public hearings allowing Epstein's survivors to testify under oath. Internet fact check's Melania's 'never had' a relationship with Epstein or Maxwell claim Almost immediately after the statement went public, users online pointed to a document from the Justice Department's Epstein file release: a 2002 email addressed to "Dear G", widely interpreted as Ghislaine Maxwell, with the sender's identity redacted. The email reads: "Dear G! How are you? Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great on the picture. I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY. Have a great time! Love, Melania." The tone, "dear G," a request to call, and the sign-off "love" struck many as inconsistent with Melania's claim of having no relationship with Maxwell. It must be noted that the sender's ID in the email is blacked out. It has not been independently verified that the email was sent by Melania Trump rather than some other Melania. No official attribution has been confirmed. Also read | Pam Bondi subpoenaed: House oversight committee forces Trump's AG to testify on DOJ's alleged Epstein files 'cover-up' A damning second email emerges A separate email is also making the rounds on X. The email is addressed to Jeffrey Epstein's Gmail account and is dated November 9, 2016, coincidentally the day after Trump's first presidential election victory. The sender, also redacted, writes about being surprised by the result and then adds: "I remember flying back with Donald on his plane the first weekend I went to visit you in Florida was the weekend he met Melania, and he kept on coming out of the bedroom saying 'wow what a hot piece of ass.'" The email, if authentic, could potentially contradict the account of how Trump and Melania met, though again, the sender's identity is unverified. So, did Epstein introduce the POTUS and FLOTUS? If rumours are to be believed, yes. However, for now, Melania insists, "Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump".

Did Melania Trump really have “no relationship” with Epstein or Maxwell? After the FLOTUS denied any links to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, resurfaced emails have sparked fresh questions online. Coincidence, misidentification, or contradiction?Scroll down for the fact check.

'Wow, what a hot piece of a**': Melania Trump denies Epstein and Maxwell ties, but THESE emails complicate that story | FACT CHECK

A FBI memo in the Epstein Files released by the Department of Justice last week has references to an incident in which a 16-year-old-girl being harassed by Epstein as he was talking to Donald Trump. The girl whose name is redacted was from Chile and brought up in a middle-class family in Queens. She revealed this information in an interview with the FBI on July 8, 2020. These are part of the 40,000- 50,000 new files released and has references to other interviews where a girl bit Donald Trump in his genitals as he was forcing oral sex from him.&nbsp;It is unclear the duration of the call, how she figured out the other person in the call was Donald Trump. The victim alleges that she was taken to Epstein by a girl to earn some money. She was then in Junior-high school. On her third visit to Epstein's East Side home in Manhattan. "EPSTEIN came into the room and was like "let's go, let's go"." Read the memo. He got into the massage table while being “on a speakerphone call with DONALD TRUMP.” Epstein then suddenly grabbed her hand and dragged her on top of him. He later paid $300 to her. Her abuse continued from 2016 to 2019.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-missile-attacks-irgc-israel-war-escalation-1773138645349">Iran vows to launch missiles with one tonne warhead as war continues in West Asia</a>

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The victim supposedly broke off relations with Epstein at the age of 19, when she went to seek a job in his office. “Victim went to his office once to tell him that she wanted a job. Victim was approximately 19 years old. EPSTEIN grabbed breasts, gave her $100, and told her to bring him girls, and that's how she could make money.” The victim then never returned, eventhough Epstein's assistant tried to contact her.&nbsp;According to him, he has been completely exonerated. “These are completely baseless accusations, backed by zero credible evidence, from a sadly disturbed woman who has an extensive criminal history,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. This was among the new releases of the Epstein Files; the DOJ didn't publish them initially, as these had references to US President Donald Trump. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing and association with Jeffrey Epstein.

Newly released Epstein files include an FBI memo referencing a call allegedly involving Donald Trump during an encounter with Jeffrey Epstein and a minor. The White House has dismissed the allegations as baseless.

A FBI memo in the Epstein Files released by the Department of Justice last week has references to an incident in which a 16-year-old-girl being harassed by Epstein as he was talking to Donald Trump. The girl whose name is redacted was from Chile and brought up in a middle-class family in Queens. She revealed this information in an interview with the FBI on July 8, 2020. These are part of the 40,000- 50,000 new files released and has references to other interviews where a girl bit Donald Trump in his genitals as he was forcing oral sex from him. It is unclear the duration of the call, how she figured out the other person in the call was Donald Trump. The victim alleges that she was taken to Epstein by a girl to earn some money. She was then in Junior-high school. On her third visit to Epstein's East Side home in Manhattan. "EPSTEIN came into the room and was like "let's go, let's go"." Read the memo. He got into the massage table while being “on a speakerphone call with DONALD TRUMP.” Epstein then suddenly grabbed her hand and dragged her on top of him. He later paid $300 to her. Her abuse continued from 2016 to 2019. Also Read: Iran vows to launch missiles with one tonne warhead as war continues in West Asia

Newly released Epstein files include an FBI memo referencing a call allegedly involving Donald Trump during an encounter with Jeffrey Epstein and a minor. The White House has dismissed the allegations as baseless.

FBI memo claims Epstein abused a minor while speaking to Trump on speaker phone

Secrets and crimes continue to tumble out of the Epstein Files as a new email shows just how much power the paedophile held. Jeffrey Epstein claimed in an email that he was behind ending the endeavours of Stanley Pons, the co-inventor of cold fusion. In October 2009, he wrote to perceptual scientist Al Seckel that he used political channels to ensure that Pons did not receive congressional funding for the project. "regarding cold fusion. I killed Pons years ago," the late financier wrote. The Department of Justice released over 3 million new documents from the Epstein Files in January this year. One of them has Epstein boasting that he played a major role in deciding what happens to the Pons' research on cold fusion. He even met with the head of the Mormon Church to influence decisions at Brigham Young University, a key institution in Pons’ research network.<h2>Who was Stanley Pons?</h2>Epstein doesn't literally mean he "killed" Pons, but that he ended all research into his project that could have theoretically led to the production of limitless clean energy. Stanley Pons was an electrochemist at the University of Utah who became famous in 1989 for claiming that he and Martin Fleischmann had achieved nuclear fusion at room temperature. If true, it would have proved to be a revolution in the energy sector. However, their research was soon dismissed by physics institutions and federal agencies, leading to the end of funding. Pons moved to France after his scientific reputation took a hit.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/deepak-chopra-told-epstein-to-bring-your-girls-to-israel-and-switzerland-i-am-just-a-lover-1772080714586">Epstein told Deepak Chopra, 'I liked watching you zero in on your prey' - 'Just a lover'</a> &nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260310/image-1773120735127.png"></figure><h2>New Epstein emails show his influence on scientific research</h2>Epstein wrote in the email to Seckel, "regarding cold fusion. i killed pons years ago", to which the latter replied, "Don't leave me hanging Jeff. I want to know you relationship to Pons and cold fusion..." Epstein names a congressman and how he argued against the funding, including a meeting with the head of the Mormon church. "the origidnal (sic) senate funding came out of congress, and wayne owens senator from utah „ i was there an argues against, it, had of meet with the head of the mormon church," Epstein wrote. This was reportedly because BYU's competing cold fusion program ran through the Church's governance.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/stephen-hawking-photographed-with-bikini-clad-women-in-new-epstein-files-photo-1772012206281">Stephen Hawking photographed with bikini-clad women in new Epstein Files | PHOTO</a><h2>Cold fusion and Epstein</h2>Seckel wrote in an email, "BTW, for your amusement, I spent part of the last month investigating a new cold fusion device for our billionaire engineer pals on the west coast, who were about to sink millions of dollars into this thing." The new emails show that Epstein wielded influence on scientific research, as he details how he was present during congressional hearings and presented the case that cold fusion research should not be funded. The incident is an example of how some people could be dictating how scientific research happens, who gets funds and what should be suppressed. Epstein talked about science in other emails also, including Low Energy Nuclear Reactions, another name for cold fusion.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">1/ 🧵BREAKING: Previously unreported federal Epstein file emails reveal that Jeffrey Epstein claimed he personally killed cold fusion — the discovery that could have given the world clean, limitless energy from water. Not through science. Through congressional defunding and a… <a href="https://t.co/sVZeO5rTe7">pic.twitter.com/sVZeO5rTe7</a>&mdash; Sayer Ji (@sayerjigmi) <a href="https://twitter.com/sayerjigmi/status/2028670306689106188?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Jeffrey Epstein ‘killed Pons years ago’, referring to an electrochemist who was working on cold fusion in the late 1980s. The paedophile wrote in an email how he stopped funding for his project after speaking against it at the political level.

Secrets and crimes continue to tumble out of the Epstein Files as a new email shows just how much power the paedophile held. Jeffrey Epstein claimed in an email that he was behind ending the endeavours of Stanley Pons, the co-inventor of cold fusion. In October 2009, he wrote to perceptual scientist Al Seckel that he used political channels to ensure that Pons did not receive congressional funding for the project. "regarding cold fusion. I killed Pons years ago," the late financier wrote. The Department of Justice released over 3 million new documents from the Epstein Files in January this year. One of them has Epstein boasting that he played a major role in deciding what happens to the Pons' research on cold fusion. He even met with the head of the Mormon Church to influence decisions at Brigham Young University, a key institution in Pons’ research network. Who was Stanley Pons? Epstein doesn't literally mean he "killed" Pons, but that he ended all research into his project that could have theoretically led to the production of limitless clean energy. Stanley Pons was an electrochemist at the University of Utah who became famous in 1989 for claiming that he and Martin Fleischmann had achieved nuclear fusion at room temperature. If true, it would have proved to be a revolution in the energy sector. However, their research was soon dismissed by physics institutions and federal agencies, leading to the end of funding. Pons moved to France after his scientific reputation took a hit. Also Read: Epstein told Deepak Chopra, 'I liked watching you zero in on your prey' - 'Just a lover' New Epstein emails show his influence on scientific research Epstein wrote in the email to Seckel, "regarding cold fusion. i killed pons years ago", to which the latter replied, "Don't leave me hanging Jeff. I want to know you relationship to Pons and cold fusion..." Epstein names a congressman and how he argued against the funding, including a meeting with the head of the Mormon church. "the origidnal (sic) senate funding came out of congress, and wayne owens senator from utah „ i was there an argues against, it, had of meet with the head of the mormon church," Epstein wrote. This was reportedly because BYU's competing cold fusion program ran through the Church's governance. Also Read: Stephen Hawking photographed with bikini-clad women in new Epstein Files | PHOTO Cold fusion and Epstein Seckel wrote in an email, "BTW, for your amusement, I spent part of the last month investigating a new cold fusion device for our billionaire engineer pals on the west coast, who were about to sink millions of dollars into this thing." The new emails show that Epstein wielded influence on scientific research, as he details how he was present during congressional hearings and presented the case that cold fusion research should not be funded. The incident is an example of how some people could be dictating how scientific research happens, who gets funds and what should be suppressed. Epstein talked about science in other emails also, including Low Energy Nuclear Reactions, another name for cold fusion.

Jeffrey Epstein ‘killed Pons years ago’, referring to an electrochemist who was working on cold fusion in the late 1980s. The paedophile wrote in an email how he stopped funding for his project after speaking against it at the political level.

Epstein Files show the paedophile ‘killed Pons years ago’. Who was he and what happened?

The US Justice Department released additional FBI documents related to its investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday that included previously withheld summaries of interviews with a woman who alleged that President Donald Trump sexually assaulted her in the 1980s after being introduced to him by Jeffrey Epstein.&nbsp;The documents detailing the interviews had not been made public under previous congressionally-mandated file releases related to the late convicted sex offender because they were mistakenly marked “duplicative”, the department said. They were only recently identified as distinct records following further examination, it said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-to-ban-social-media-for-children-under-16-citizens-say-prohibit-porn-online-gambling-sites-too-1772818286678">Indonesia to ban social media for children under 16; citizens say prohibit porn, online gambling sites too</a>&nbsp;In the newly released materials, the woman, who was between 13 and 15 years old at the time of the alleged incidents, described being taken by Epstein to a location in either New York or New Jersey, where she was introduced to Trump. She claimed that Trump tried to force her into performing oral sex, during which she bit him in resistance. The woman also alleged separate assaults by Epstein and reported receiving threatening phone calls over the years from individuals she believed were connected to Epstein.She was threatened to remain silent.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/karnataka-home-to-india-s-silicon-valley-to-ban-social-media-for-children-under-16-cm-siddaramaiah-1772795908734">Karnataka, home to India’s Silicon Valley, to ban social media for children under 16</a>&nbsp;Democrats are investigating the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files.&nbsp;Trump has denied any wrongdoing related to the Epstein allegations, and the Justice Department previously said some of the documents it has released “contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump,” particularly those submitted around 2020 US elections.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-iran-using-decoys-to-fool-enemies-internet-says-israel-bombed-a-helicopter-painting-1772792063782">Is Iran using decoys to fool enemies? Internet says Israel bombed a helicopter painting</a>&nbsp;On Wednesday, the House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify regarding the department’s management and disclosure of the records. The bipartisan-backed motion (24-19) highlighted concerns over transparency in the Jeffrey Epstein case.The latest disclosure adds to the ongoing public release of millions of pages from Epstein-related investigations.

The new documents had not been made public under previous congressionally-mandated file releases because they were mistakenly marked “duplicative”, the department said. They were only recently identified as distinct records following further examination, it added.

The US Justice Department released additional FBI documents related to its investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday that included previously withheld summaries of interviews with a woman who alleged that President Donald Trump sexually assaulted her in the 1980s after being introduced to him by Jeffrey Epstein. The documents detailing the interviews had not been made public under previous congressionally-mandated file releases related to the late convicted sex offender because they were mistakenly marked “duplicative”, the department said. They were only recently identified as distinct records following further examination, it said. Also Read: Indonesia to ban social media for children under 16; citizens say prohibit porn, online gambling sites too In the newly released materials, the woman, who was between 13 and 15 years old at the time of the alleged incidents, described being taken by Epstein to a location in either New York or New Jersey, where she was introduced to Trump. She claimed that Trump tried to force her into performing oral sex, during which she bit him in resistance. The woman also alleged separate assaults by Epstein and reported receiving threatening phone calls over the years from individuals she believed were connected to Epstein. She was threatened to remain silent. Also Read: Karnataka, home to India’s Silicon Valley, to ban social media for children under 16 Democrats are investigating the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files. Trump has denied any wrongdoing related to the Epstein allegations, and the Justice Department previously said some of the documents it has released “contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump,” particularly those submitted around 2020 US elections. Also Read: Is Iran using decoys to fool enemies? Internet says Israel bombed a helicopter painting On Wednesday, the House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify regarding the department’s management and disclosure of the records. The bipartisan-backed motion (24-19) highlighted concerns over transparency in the Jeffrey Epstein case. The latest disclosure adds to the ongoing public release of millions of pages from Epstein-related investigations.

The new documents had not been made public under previous congressionally-mandated file releases because they were mistakenly marked “duplicative”, the department said. They were only recently identified as distinct records following further examination, it added.

‘Assaulted by Trump when I was minor,’ reveals woman’s interview in new Epstein files

The US Department of Justice has released the missing interviews from the evidence catalogue of the case against Ghislaine Maxwell. These interviews were from a woman only who was allegedly abused by Epstein and subsequently by Trump in the 1980s when she was a minor.

DOJ publishes missing Epstein documents with sexual assault allegations against Trump- Key takeaways

US Attorney General Pam Bondi is being compelled to testify in the ongoing US investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The House Oversight committee on Wednesday (Mar 4) voted 24-19 to approve a motion to subpoena US President Donald Trump's AG. Notably, the motion introduced by Republican representative Nancy Mace received the backing of five Republicans. The motion comes amid growing criticism across party lines over the Bondi-led Department of Justice's failures regarding the notorious Epstein Files. This, incidentally, includes the DoJ accidentally releasing the names and nudes of survivors, while identifying information of powerful figures like Trump was duly redacted.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/epstein-files-debacle-doj-exposes-nude-victims-in-catastrophic-file-dump-but-remembers-to-redact-trump-s-face-1770021222053">Shocking Epstein Files debacle: DOJ exposes nude victims in catastrophic file dump, but remembers to redact Trump's face</a><h2>Americans want answers</h2>Announcing the subpoena against Pam Bondi, Mace on X wrote, "The American people want answers on the Epstein files, and so do we".Meanwhile, Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat member of the House Committee, wrote in a post, "we can hold the Epstein class accountable if we are willing to cross the aisle and build a coalition of accountability".<h2>Bondi's controversial congressional testimony</h2>Previously, on February 11, Bondi refused to apologise to survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's nefarious underage sex racket, even after being pressed to do so at a House Judiciary Committee hearing. Bondi rebuffed Representative Pramilla Jayapal's request to turn around and address the victims of the convicted sex offender, and instead triggered a shouting match, accusing the Democrat lawmaker of "theatrics".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/epstein-hearing-turns-tense-as-pam-bondi-refuses-to-apologise-to-survivors-says-she-won-t-get-in-the-gutter-1770873842476">Epstein hearing turns tense as Pam Bondi refuses to apologise to survivors, says she won’t 'get in the gutter'. Watch!</a>At the hearing, Bondi also faced accusations of lying under oath to protect US President Donald Trump. &nbsp;The volatile congressional hearing also saw California Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu shame Bondi for failing to hold the paedophile's co-conspirators accountable. “Shame on you. If you had any decency, you would resign right after this hearing," he said.Lieu had questioned Bondi over Trump's tie to the deceased sex trafficker Epstein. He said that there was evidence that, like the disgraced British Royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Trump too attended parties with Epstein. "I want to know, were there any underage girls at that party or any party that Trump attended with Jeffrey Epstein?" he asked. However, Bondi was quick to dismiss his question as ridiculous and insisted it was merely an attempt to "deflect" from the great things Trump claims to have achieved. "There is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime. Everyone knows this," a visibly exasperated Bondi said.&nbsp;

Why is the US Attorney General being forced to testify in the Epstein investigation? Lawmakers have voted to subpoena Pam Bondi as scrutiny grows over how the Jeffrey Epstein files were handled.

What triggered the move and what could Bondi be questioned about? Scroll down to read more.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi is being compelled to testify in the ongoing US investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The House Oversight committee on Wednesday (Mar 4) voted 24-19 to approve a motion to subpoena US President Donald Trump's AG. Notably, the motion introduced by Republican representative Nancy Mace received the backing of five Republicans. The motion comes amid growing criticism across party lines over the Bondi-led Department of Justice's failures regarding the notorious Epstein Files. This, incidentally, includes the DoJ accidentally releasing the names and nudes of survivors, while identifying information of powerful figures like Trump was duly redacted. Also read | Shocking Epstein Files debacle: DOJ exposes nude victims in catastrophic file dump, but remembers to redact Trump's face Americans want answers Announcing the subpoena against Pam Bondi, Mace on X wrote, "The American people want answers on the Epstein files, and so do we". Meanwhile, Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat member of the House Committee, wrote in a post, "we can hold the Epstein class accountable if we are willing to cross the aisle and build a coalition of accountability". Bondi's controversial congressional testimony Previously, on February 11, Bondi refused to apologise to survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's nefarious underage sex racket, even after being pressed to do so at a House Judiciary Committee hearing. Bondi rebuffed Representative Pramilla Jayapal's request to turn around and address the victims of the convicted sex offender, and instead triggered a shouting match, accusing the Democrat lawmaker of "theatrics". Also read | Epstein hearing turns tense as Pam Bondi refuses to apologise to survivors, says she won’t 'get in the gutter'. Watch! At the hearing, Bondi also faced accusations of lying under oath to protect US President Donald Trump. The volatile congressional hearing also saw California Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu shame Bondi for failing to hold the paedophile's co-conspirators accountable. “Shame on you. If you had any decency, you would resign right after this hearing," he said. Lieu had questioned Bondi over Trump's tie to the deceased sex trafficker Epstein. He said that there was evidence that, like the disgraced British Royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Trump too attended parties with Epstein. "I want to know, were there any underage girls at that party or any party that Trump attended with Jeffrey Epstein?" he asked. However, Bondi was quick to dismiss his question as ridiculous and insisted it was merely an attempt to "deflect" from the great things Trump claims to have achieved. "There is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime. Everyone knows this," a visibly exasperated Bondi said.

Why is the US Attorney General being forced to testify in the Epstein investigation? Lawmakers have voted to subpoena Pam Bondi as scrutiny grows over how the Jeffrey Epstein files were handled.What triggered the move and what could Bondi be questioned about? Scroll down to read more.

Pam Bondi subpoenaed: House oversight committee forces Trump's AG to testify on DOJ's alleged Epstein files 'cover-up'

US President Donald Trump's top aide, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has finally agreed to testify about his friendship with sex offender, paedophile Jeffrey Epstein before Congress. Lutnick's whose photographs hanging out on Epstein's "paedophile island" made headlines recently has agreed to testify in front of House Oversight Committee, revealed James Comer, the chairman of the committee on Tuesday (Mar 3).Aso read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explosive-epstein-files-accuse-trump-of-raping-13-year-old-murdering-a-new-born-white-house-says-this-about-allegations-1769823565436">Explosive Epstein files accuse Trump of raping 13-year-old, murdering a newborn; White House says THIS about allegations</a><h2>Lutnick will testify but conditions apply</h2>According to reports, Lutnick only agreed to testify behind closed doors after Republican Representative Nancy Mace threatened to subpoena him."Secretary Lutnick has proactively agreed to appear voluntarily before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform," Republican chairman James Comer said in a statement. However, when will Lutnick do so remains unclear as a date is yet to be announced.Talking to Axios, Trump's commerce secretary said, "I look forward to appearing before the committee." He asserted that he had "nothing wrong, and I want to set the record straight."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/-i-loved-the-torture-video-recipient-of-horrifying-epstein-email-finally-identified-doj-epstein-files-release-1770782784202">‘I loved the torture video’: Recipient of horrifying Epstein email FINALLY identified</a><h2>How close were Lutnick and Epstein?</h2>Lutnick, a billionaire former New York financier, has earlier claimed that he was not friends with the disgraced financier. Appearing in a podcast last year, he claimed that in 2005 he gave Epstein a house tour which left him disturbed. Lutnick stated that following this, he and his wife decided that he would "never be in the room with that disgusting person, ever again…So I was never in the room with him socially, for business or even philanthropy," he said.However, the recently released Epstein Files revealed that Lutnick and Epstein traded emails well beyond 2005, including after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.In 2012, Lutnick even had plans to meet Epstein for lunch on Little Saint James, notoriously known as "Epstein Island." After being caught in a lie, last month, Lutnick confirmed that he did, in fact, meet Jeffrey Epstein on the Caribbean island, but claimed that his family was with him and that he saw nothing untoward on 'Epstein Island'. &nbsp;

Why has Trump’s commerce secretary suddenly agreed to testify about Jeffrey Epstein? Howard Lutnick will appear before Congress after pressure from lawmakers over photos and emails linked to Epstein.

Scroll down to read more.

US President Donald Trump's top aide, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has finally agreed to testify about his friendship with sex offender, paedophile Jeffrey Epstein before Congress. Lutnick's whose photographs hanging out on Epstein's "paedophile island" made headlines recently has agreed to testify in front of House Oversight Committee, revealed James Comer, the chairman of the committee on Tuesday (Mar 3). Aso read | Explosive Epstein files accuse Trump of raping 13-year-old, murdering a newborn; White House says THIS about allegations Lutnick will testify but conditions apply According to reports, Lutnick only agreed to testify behind closed doors after Republican Representative Nancy Mace threatened to subpoena him. "Secretary Lutnick has proactively agreed to appear voluntarily before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform," Republican chairman James Comer said in a statement. However, when will Lutnick do so remains unclear as a date is yet to be announced. Talking to Axios, Trump's commerce secretary said, "I look forward to appearing before the committee." He asserted that he had "nothing wrong, and I want to set the record straight." Also read | ‘I loved the torture video’: Recipient of horrifying Epstein email FINALLY identified How close were Lutnick and Epstein? Lutnick, a billionaire former New York financier, has earlier claimed that he was not friends with the disgraced financier. Appearing in a podcast last year, he claimed that in 2005 he gave Epstein a house tour which left him disturbed. Lutnick stated that following this, he and his wife decided that he would "never be in the room with that disgusting person, ever again…So I was never in the room with him socially, for business or even philanthropy," he said. However, the recently released Epstein Files revealed that Lutnick and Epstein traded emails well beyond 2005, including after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008. In 2012, Lutnick even had plans to meet Epstein for lunch on Little Saint James, notoriously known as "Epstein Island." After being caught in a lie, last month, Lutnick confirmed that he did, in fact, meet Jeffrey Epstein on the Caribbean island, but claimed that his family was with him and that he saw nothing untoward on 'Epstein Island'.

Why has Trump’s commerce secretary suddenly agreed to testify about Jeffrey Epstein? Howard Lutnick will appear before Congress after pressure from lawmakers over photos and emails linked to Epstein.Scroll down to read more.

After subpoena threats, Howard Lutnick agrees to face House Committee over 'Epstein Island' links

Elon Musk, the eccentric billionaire known for his often outlandish X posts, has hit out at the New York Times over a decade-old article titled "Pedophilia: A Disorder, Not a Crime". This comes amidst significant public outrage over the Jeffrey Epstein case, with new revelations from the infamous Epstein Files emerging daily and shocking the world.<h2>What did Elon Musk say?</h2>Musk reshared a post showing the cover image of an over a decade-old NYT opinion article by Margo Kaplan. The original post calls out the article with its caption: "No, it’s a crime...This is delusional".Blasting the publication, Musk wrote, "The New York Times is utterly disgusting".

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The New York Times is utterly disgusting <a href="https://t.co/0xAE4raE6z">https://t.co/0xAE4raE6z</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/2026135632624652377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/revealed-at-least-6-epstein-secret-storage-units-missed-by-fbi-what-are-they-hiding-unseen-pics-of-young-victims-blackmail-material-powerful-men-1771892294014">REVEALED! At least 6 Epstein secret storage units missed by FBI. What are they hiding?</a><h2>What does the article say about paedophilia?</h2>The opinion piece by Margo Kaplan, a law professor at Rutgers University, suggests that paedophilia should be viewed through a mental health lens rather than a purely criminal behaviour."By some estimates, 1 per cent of the male population continues, long after puberty, to find themselves attracted to prepubescent children. These people are living with pedophilia, a sexual attraction to prepubescents that often constitutes a mental illness. Unfortunately, our laws are failing them and, consequently, ignoring opportunities to prevent child abuse," writes Kaplan.In her article, Kaplan contends that while the sexual abuse of children remains illegal, recognising the act as a disorder instead of a crime could help people seek help before they act on their impulses.She uses other mental health conditions, including substance abuse disorders, as examples. "Yet our laws ignore pedophilia until after the commission of a sexual offence, emphasising punishment, not prevention," she writes.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explosive-epstein-files-accuse-trump-of-raping-13-year-old-murdering-a-new-born-white-house-says-this-about-allegations-1769823565436">Explosive Epstein files accuse Trump of raping 13-year-old, murdering a newborn; White House says THIS about allegations</a>Kaplan says that it is a "misconception" that "pedophilia is a choice". She contends that recent research, which she concedes is limited to sex offenders "because of the stigma of pedophilia" suggests that it "may have neurological origins"."Pedophilia could result from a failure in the brain to identify which environmental stimuli should provoke a sexual response." She insists that there are people who suffer from the "disorder" and have vowed to "never to touch a child and yet live in terror"."They must hide their disorder from everyone they know — or risk losing educational and job opportunities, and face the prospect of harassment and even violence. Many feel isolated; some contemplate suicide." However, she acknowledges that "There’s no question that the extension of civil rights protections to people with pedophilia must be weighed against the health and safety needs of others, especially kids. It stands to reason that a pedophile should not be hired as a grade-school teacher. "&nbsp;

Why is Elon Musk attacking The New York Times over a decade-old opinion piece? His sharp reaction comes amid renewed outrage tied to the Jeffrey Epstein revelations.

What exactly did he say, and what was the article about? Scroll down to read more.

Elon Musk, the eccentric billionaire known for his often outlandish X posts, has hit out at the New York Times over a decade-old article titled "Pedophilia: A Disorder, Not a Crime". This comes amidst significant public outrage over the Jeffrey Epstein case, with new revelations from the infamous Epstein Files emerging daily and shocking the world. What did Elon Musk say? Musk reshared a post showing the cover image of an over a decade-old NYT opinion article by Margo Kaplan. The original post calls out the article with its caption: "No, it’s a crime...This is delusional". Blasting the publication, Musk wrote, "The New York Times is utterly disgusting".

Why is Elon Musk attacking The New York Times over a decade-old opinion piece? His sharp reaction comes amid renewed outrage tied to the Jeffrey Epstein revelations.What exactly did he say, and what was the article about? Scroll down to read more.

'Utterly disgusting’: Elon Musk blasts New York Times over 'paedophilia not a crime' article

Hillary Clinton denied any connection to Jeffrey Epstein, saying she never met him or visited his properties, and urged the committee to question the current US president under oath if seeking truth.

'Never visited his island': Hillary Clinton denies any wrongdoing, says if committee wants truth on Epstein Files, 'ask Trump directly under oath'

Internet was set on fire after the late astrophysicist Stephen Hawking with two women in bikinis. Amid the speculations, his family claimed that the women were care givers. 

Stephen Hawking pictured with two women in bikinis during event organised by Epstein, family says they’re ‘caregivers’

President Donald Trump on Thursday (Feb 19) described the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, as "a shame," saying the development was "very sad" and damaging for Britain’s royal family. The US President's statement comes as Andrew was arrested on his birthday over his links to disgraced financier, paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.<h2>What did Trump say exactly?</h2>Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he felt sympathy for the exiled royal, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. "I think it’s a shame. I think it’s very sad," he said. "I think it’s so bad for the royal family. It’s very, very sad."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-jesus-im-coming-jeffrey-epstein-s-lewd-email-about-pope-francis-revealed-here-s-what-he-said-1771390161305">'Jesus Im c**ing': Jeffrey Epstein's lewd email about Pope Francis REVEALED. Here's what he said</a>Andrew was detained on his birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, in connection with alleged correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein during the period when he served as a UK trade envoy. The arrest marked an extraordinary moment in modern British history, as members of the royal family rarely face such public legal action.Police vehicles were seen entering the grounds of his residence early Thursday morning. He was later released the same evening after approximately 11 hours in custody, according to Thames Valley Police.<h2>Trump calls himself “an expert”</h2>When asked whether Americans could face similar scrutiny over their ties to Epstein, Trump pivoted to his own situation. "You know I’m the expert in a way because I’ve been totally exonerated. It’s very nice," he said, adding that he could speak on the matter "very nicely."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hillary-clinton-accuses-doj-of-slow-walking-epstein-files-to-divert-attention-from-president-trump-1771398569234">Hillary Clinton accuses DoJ of 'slow-walking' Epstein files to 'divert attention from President Trump'</a>Trump has repeatedly dismissed allegations linked to Epstein as a "hoax" and has denied any wrongdoing. He has also threatened to sue his critics, including author Michael Wolff. "I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein… Frankly, the DOJ should just say 'we have other things to do'," Trump said earlier this month.<h2>A long shadow over the Royal Family</h2>Andrew's ties to Epstein have drawn scrutiny for years, particularly after allegations by Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse when she was a teenager. He denied the claims but reached an out-of-court settlement with her in 2022.King Charles III has meanwhile issued a brief statement following his brother’s arrest, saying only that "the law must take its course" and declining further comment.

President Donald Trump called the arrest of Prince Andrew, now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, “a shame” and “very sad” for the royal family, after the British royal was detained over alleged Epstein links.

President Donald Trump on Thursday (Feb 19) described the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, as "a shame," saying the development was "very sad" and damaging for Britain’s royal family. The US President's statement comes as Andrew was arrested on his birthday over his links to disgraced financier, paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. What did Trump say exactly? Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he felt sympathy for the exiled royal, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. "I think it’s a shame. I think it’s very sad," he said. "I think it’s so bad for the royal family. It’s very, very sad." Also read | 'Jesus Im c**ing': Jeffrey Epstein's lewd email about Pope Francis REVEALED. Here's what he said Andrew was detained on his birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, in connection with alleged correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein during the period when he served as a UK trade envoy. The arrest marked an extraordinary moment in modern British history, as members of the royal family rarely face such public legal action. Police vehicles were seen entering the grounds of his residence early Thursday morning. He was later released the same evening after approximately 11 hours in custody, according to Thames Valley Police. Trump calls himself “an expert” When asked whether Americans could face similar scrutiny over their ties to Epstein, Trump pivoted to his own situation. "You know I’m the expert in a way because I’ve been totally exonerated. It’s very nice," he said, adding that he could speak on the matter "very nicely." Also read | Hillary Clinton accuses DoJ of 'slow-walking' Epstein files to 'divert attention from President Trump' Trump has repeatedly dismissed allegations linked to Epstein as a "hoax" and has denied any wrongdoing. He has also threatened to sue his critics, including author Michael Wolff. "I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein… Frankly, the DOJ should just say 'we have other things to do'," Trump said earlier this month. A long shadow over the Royal Family Andrew's ties to Epstein have drawn scrutiny for years, particularly after allegations by Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse when she was a teenager. He denied the claims but reached an out-of-court settlement with her in 2022. King Charles III has meanwhile issued a brief statement following his brother’s arrest, saying only that "the law must take its course" and declining further comment.

President Donald Trump called the arrest of Prince Andrew, now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, “a shame” and “very sad” for the royal family, after the British royal was detained over alleged Epstein links.

'It’s a shame...very sad': Trump weighs in on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's detention over Epstein links

Hillary Clinton, whose husband Bill Clinton's photos from the Epstein Files went viral just a few weeks back, has accused the Trump administration of trying to deflect attention from President Donald Trump. Hillary, the former secretary of state alleged that the administration was doing so by compelling her and former president Bill Clinton to testify before Congress about Jeffrey Epstein, while continuing to withhold millions of documents tied to the disgraced financier.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-jesus-im-coming-jeffrey-epstein-s-lewd-email-about-pope-francis-revealed-here-s-what-he-said-1771390161305">'Jesus Im c**ing': Jeffrey Epstein's lewd email about Pope Francis REVEALED</a><h2>Trump DoJ purposefully 'slow walking' the Epstein files release?</h2>Speaking to the BBC on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Clinton alleged that the Justice Department was "slow-walking" the release of Epstein-related records. She once again urged officials to make all remaining Epstein Files public. Although lawmakers mandated the disclosure of Epstein files last year, roughly three million documents still remain unreleased.<h2>Clintons prepare for testimony</h2>The former secretary of state is scheduled to give sworn testimony before the House Oversight Committee on February 26, with Bill Clinton set to appear the following day. The deposition will mark the first time in more than four decades that a former US president has testified before a congressional panel.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-jesus-watches-over-her-whoops-disturbing-epstein-files-email-mocking-young-victim-s-faith-goes-viral-1771055911141">'Jesus watches over her… whoops': Disturbing Epstein files email mocking young victim’s faith goes viral</a>Clinton said she and her husband had offered to provide written testimony under oath, as some other witnesses had done, but lawmakers insisted on in-person depositions. When asked if Andrew Mountbatten, formerly known as Prince Andrew, should be called in to testify, Clinton said, "I think everybody should testify who was asked to testify," adding that the process should be applied equally."I just want it to be fair. I want everybody treated the same way. That’s not true for my husband and me, because [when] other witnesses were asked to testify, they gave written statements under oath," she claimed.She suggested the decision to summon the Clintons was politically motivated. "We offered that [but] they want to pull us [in]. Why do they want to pull us into this? To divert attention from President Trump. This is not complicated."House Oversight Committee chair James Comer rejected the Clintons’ offer of written testimony earlier this month and warned they could face contempt proceedings if they refused to comply with subpoenas.<h2>Bill Clinton and Epstein files</h2>The former US President features prominently in the notorious Epstein files. earlier this year, pictures of him swimming with an individual whose face has been redacted but was later identified as a victim were widely shared. Before that, a painting showing Clinton dressed in a blue dress, posing provocatively, went viral.Bill Clinton has acknowledged taking flights on Epstein’s plane in connection with charitable work but says he cut ties with Epstein after learning about allegations involving minors. Hillary Clinton said she never met Epstein but had encountered Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate, who is now serving a prison sentence, at public events. Both Clintons have called for the remaining Epstein files to be released and have said they are willing to testify publicly in addition to the closed-door depositions scheduled later this month. &nbsp;

Hillary Clinton says the Trump administration is “slow-walking” the Epstein files while dragging her and Bill Clinton into testimony. With millions of documents still unreleased, the political fight over Epstein’s secrets is far from over. Scroll down to see why this matters.

Hillary Clinton, whose husband Bill Clinton's photos from the Epstein Files went viral just a few weeks back, has accused the Trump administration of trying to deflect attention from President Donald Trump. Hillary, the former secretary of state alleged that the administration was doing so by compelling her and former president Bill Clinton to testify before Congress about Jeffrey Epstein, while continuing to withhold millions of documents tied to the disgraced financier. Also read | 'Jesus Im c**ing': Jeffrey Epstein's lewd email about Pope Francis REVEALED Trump DoJ purposefully 'slow walking' the Epstein files release? Speaking to the BBC on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Clinton alleged that the Justice Department was "slow-walking" the release of Epstein-related records. She once again urged officials to make all remaining Epstein Files public. Although lawmakers mandated the disclosure of Epstein files last year, roughly three million documents still remain unreleased. Clintons prepare for testimony The former secretary of state is scheduled to give sworn testimony before the House Oversight Committee on February 26, with Bill Clinton set to appear the following day. The deposition will mark the first time in more than four decades that a former US president has testified before a congressional panel. Also read | 'Jesus watches over her… whoops': Disturbing Epstein files email mocking young victim’s faith goes viral Clinton said she and her husband had offered to provide written testimony under oath, as some other witnesses had done, but lawmakers insisted on in-person depositions. When asked if Andrew Mountbatten, formerly known as Prince Andrew, should be called in to testify, Clinton said, "I think everybody should testify who was asked to testify," adding that the process should be applied equally. "I just want it to be fair. I want everybody treated the same way. That’s not true for my husband and me, because [when] other witnesses were asked to testify, they gave written statements under oath," she claimed. She suggested the decision to summon the Clintons was politically motivated. "We offered that [but] they want to pull us [in]. Why do they want to pull us into this? To divert attention from President Trump. This is not complicated." House Oversight Committee chair James Comer rejected the Clintons’ offer of written testimony earlier this month and warned they could face contempt proceedings if they refused to comply with subpoenas. Bill Clinton and Epstein files The former US President features prominently in the notorious Epstein files. earlier this year, pictures of him swimming with an individual whose face has been redacted but was later identified as a victim were widely shared. Before that, a painting showing Clinton dressed in a blue dress, posing provocatively, went viral. Bill Clinton has acknowledged taking flights on Epstein’s plane in connection with charitable work but says he cut ties with Epstein after learning about allegations involving minors. Hillary Clinton said she never met Epstein but had encountered Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate, who is now serving a prison sentence, at public events. Both Clintons have called for the remaining Epstein files to be released and have said they are willing to testify publicly in addition to the closed-door depositions scheduled later this month.

Hillary Clinton says the Trump administration is “slow-walking” the Epstein files while dragging her and Bill Clinton into testimony. With millions of documents still unreleased, the political fight over Epstein’s secrets is far from over. Scroll down to see why this matters.

Hillary Clinton accuses DoJ of 'slow-walking' Epstein files to 'divert attention from President Trump'

Epstein Files have exposed crimes against humanity and need a full investigation, a UN panel said. The paedophile abused women and minors, and experts demand to know how this happened for so long. They also slammed the redactions. 

Redactions in Epstein Files like ‘institutional gaslighting’, UN panel says - 'Racism, extreme misogyny'

Recently released documents from the US Justice Department's trove of Jeffrey Epstein files continue to reveal unsettling glimpses into the disgraced financier's private communications and worldview. Among the latest to surface is a series of emails from 2015 in which Epstein made crude and offensive remarks about Pope Francis and Jesus during the pontiff's historic visit to the United States.<h2>Epstein's lewd remarks about Jesus and pope</h2>The correspondence from 2015 is between Jeffrey Epstein and his brother Mark. It coincided with Pope Francis's widely followed trip to Washington and New York that included meetings with then-President Barack Obama, an address to Congress, and a speech at the United Nations General Assembly. During the New York leg of the visit, the pope stayed in Manhattan not far from Epstein's residence.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-jesus-watches-over-her-whoops-disturbing-epstein-files-email-mocking-young-victim-s-faith-goes-viral-1771055911141">'Jesus watches over her… whoops': Disturbing Epstein files email mocking young victim’s faith goes viral</a>In one email exchange, Mark Epstein mentioned the pope's presence in the city and joked about inviting him over for a drink. "You’=e probably smart enough to get out of town when the pope is here, but =f you’re in NYC, he will be staying around the corner from =ou," Mark Epstein wrote. "You should invite him over for an egg cream and =xchange stories," suggested the paedophile's brother.Jeffrey Epstein responded with a vulgar suggestion involving a "massage," accompanied by mocking religious references. "so when he =ears oh jesus Im coming. he feels =appy," reads the disturbing email which is filled with spelling errors and partially obscured text.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260218/image-1771393901752.png"></figure><h2>Critics slam Epstein's contempt for moral authority</h2>Commentators who reviewed the emails said the remarks appeared to go beyond tasteless humour. Christopher Hale, a political commentator and Catholic writer, as cited by Daily Beast, described the messages as reflecting disdain not only for Pope Francis personally but also for the broader moral authority of the papacy. The email was "not merely being tasteless," Epstein was "expressing contempt—for Francis, for the papacy, and for the moral authority the pope represented".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/chilling-new-details-revealed-in-pawtucket-shooting-did-robert-dorgan-aka-roberta-esposito-kill-son-ex-wife-over-gender-identity-1771384618172">Chilling new details revealed in Pawtucket shooting: Did Robert Dorgan aka Roberta Esposito kill son, ex-wife over 'gender identity'?</a>The emails form part of millions of documents made public earlier this year, in January, as authorities released material connected to Epstein’s network, relationships, and activities. The files include communications, photographs, and other records spanning decades of Epstein’s life before he died in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. His associate Ghislaine Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.

Newly surfaced Epstein emails from 2015 show the disgraced financier making crude jokes about Pope Francis during the pontiff’s US visit. The disturbing exchange offers an unsettling glimpse into Epstein’s lewd sex offer to the Church official. Scroll down to read what he wrote.

Recently released documents from the US Justice Department's trove of Jeffrey Epstein files continue to reveal unsettling glimpses into the disgraced financier's private communications and worldview. Among the latest to surface is a series of emails from 2015 in which Epstein made crude and offensive remarks about Pope Francis and Jesus during the pontiff's historic visit to the United States. Epstein's lewd remarks about Jesus and pope The correspondence from 2015 is between Jeffrey Epstein and his brother Mark. It coincided with Pope Francis's widely followed trip to Washington and New York that included meetings with then-President Barack Obama, an address to Congress, and a speech at the United Nations General Assembly. During the New York leg of the visit, the pope stayed in Manhattan not far from Epstein's residence. Also read | 'Jesus watches over her… whoops': Disturbing Epstein files email mocking young victim’s faith goes viral In one email exchange, Mark Epstein mentioned the pope's presence in the city and joked about inviting him over for a drink. "You’=e probably smart enough to get out of town when the pope is here, but =f you’re in NYC, he will be staying around the corner from =ou," Mark Epstein wrote. "You should invite him over for an egg cream and =xchange stories," suggested the paedophile's brother. Jeffrey Epstein responded with a vulgar suggestion involving a "massage," accompanied by mocking religious references. "so when he =ears oh jesus Im coming. he feels =appy," reads the disturbing email which is filled with spelling errors and partially obscured text. Critics slam Epstein's contempt for moral authority Commentators who reviewed the emails said the remarks appeared to go beyond tasteless humour. Christopher Hale, a political commentator and Catholic writer, as cited by Daily Beast, described the messages as reflecting disdain not only for Pope Francis personally but also for the broader moral authority of the papacy. The email was "not merely being tasteless," Epstein was "expressing contempt—for Francis, for the papacy, and for the moral authority the pope represented". Also read | Chilling new details revealed in Pawtucket shooting: Did Robert Dorgan aka Roberta Esposito kill son, ex-wife over 'gender identity'? The emails form part of millions of documents made public earlier this year, in January, as authorities released material connected to Epstein’s network, relationships, and activities. The files include communications, photographs, and other records spanning decades of Epstein’s life before he died in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. His associate Ghislaine Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.

Newly surfaced Epstein emails from 2015 show the disgraced financier making crude jokes about Pope Francis during the pontiff’s US visit. The disturbing exchange offers an unsettling glimpse into Epstein’s lewd sex offer to the Church official. Scroll down to read what he wrote.

'Jesus Im c**ing': Jeffrey Epstein's lewd email about Pope Francis REVEALED. Here's what he said

Questions are mounting in Washington after lawmakers accused the Trump administration of tracking their research into the Jeffrey Epstein files, raising concerns about whether the Justice Department is overstepping its authority and shielding sensitive information. The controversy erupted after photographs from the Wednesday (Feb 11) congressional hearing showed US Attorney General Pam Bondi holding a document labelled "Jayapal Pramila Search History," which appeared to list files accessed by Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal during her review of unredacted Epstein records provided to lawmakers.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/epstein-hearing-turns-tense-as-pam-bondi-refuses-to-apologise-to-survivors-says-she-won-t-get-in-the-gutter-1770873842476">Bondi equates apologising to Epstein survivors with 'getting in gutter'. Watch!</a><h2>Is the DoJ protecting someone?</h2>Access to the previously undisclosed Epstein materials was granted to members of Congress earlier this week under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. But several lawmakers now say the review process itself may have been designed to track their activity. Jayapal, whose review history Trump's Attorney General Pam Bondi was seen with at the congressional hearing, slammed the DoJ, saying that the discovery confirmed her concerns. In a social media post, she wrote that Bondi appeared with a “burn book” containing a “printed search history of exactly what emails I searched”. Calling the practice inappropriate and a violation of the separation of powers between Congress and the executive branch, she added, “That is outrageous, and I intend to pursue this and stop this spying on members.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It is totally inappropriate and against the separations of powers for the DOJ to surveil us as we search the Epstein files. Bondi showed up today with a burn book that held a printed search history of exactly what emails I searched. That is outrageous and I intend to pursue this… <a href="https://t.co/nyZjmHoGUq">https://t.co/nyZjmHoGUq</a>&mdash; Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJayapal/status/2021725059245609079?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pam-bondi-lied-under-oath-to-protect-potus-democrats-tell-ag-to-resign-amid-trump-epstein-links-watch-video-1770863293332">Pam Bondi accused of 'lying under oath': Is she trying to protect Trump? Video</a><h2>Justice Department defends logging practice</h2>Talking to The Guardian, the Justice Department acknowledged that it logs searches conducted by lawmakers reviewing the Epstein files. In a statement, a spokesperson said the tracking is intended to prevent the disclosure of victims’ identities and other sensitive information. "As part of that review, DoJ logs all searches made on its systems to protect against the release of victim information."Still, criticism has come from both sides of the political aisle. Republican Representative Nancy Mace described the monitoring as "creepy," while Democratic Representative Suhas Subramanyam said the confirmation explained earlier suspicions that lawmakers’ file access was being recorded.House Speaker Mike Johnson said such monitoring would be “inappropriate” if confirmed, though he initially said he had not reviewed the reports of the surveillance in detail.

Why was the US Attorney General Pam Bondi holding a document labelled with a lawmaker’s Epstein Files search history? Is the Justice Department tracking lawmakers?. Scroll down to read more.

Questions are mounting in Washington after lawmakers accused the Trump administration of tracking their research into the Jeffrey Epstein files, raising concerns about whether the Justice Department is overstepping its authority and shielding sensitive information. The controversy erupted after photographs from the Wednesday (Feb 11) congressional hearing showed US Attorney General Pam Bondi holding a document labelled "Jayapal Pramila Search History," which appeared to list files accessed by Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal during her review of unredacted Epstein records provided to lawmakers. Also read | Bondi equates apologising to Epstein survivors with 'getting in gutter'. Watch! Is the DoJ protecting someone? Access to the previously undisclosed Epstein materials was granted to members of Congress earlier this week under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. But several lawmakers now say the review process itself may have been designed to track their activity. Jayapal, whose review history Trump's Attorney General Pam Bondi was seen with at the congressional hearing, slammed the DoJ, saying that the discovery confirmed her concerns. In a social media post, she wrote that Bondi appeared with a “burn book” containing a “printed search history of exactly what emails I searched”. Calling the practice inappropriate and a violation of the separation of powers between Congress and the executive branch, she added, “That is outrageous, and I intend to pursue this and stop this spying on members.”

Why was the US Attorney General Pam Bondi holding a document labelled with a lawmaker’s Epstein Files search history? Is the Justice Department tracking lawmakers?. Scroll down to read more.

Trump admin tracking lawmakers’ Epstein files research, Bondi seen with 'Jayapal search history' document: Is the DoJ protecting someone?

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday (Feb 11) refused to apologise to survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's nefarious underage sex racket, even after being pressed to do so at a House Judiciary Committee hearing. Bondi rebuffed Representative Pramilla Jayapal's request to turn around and address the victims of the convicted sex offender, and instead triggered a shouting match, accusing the Democrat lawmaker of "theatrics".This comes days after the Bondi-led Department of Justice (DoJ) released a massive tranche of over 3 million documents from the Epstein files cache, most of which were riddled with redactions. Despite the heavily blacked-out sections, the file release, as per reports, contained nudes and identities of the victims, even as the identities of the offenders were redacted.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/epstein-files-debacle-doj-exposes-nude-victims-in-catastrophic-file-dump-but-remembers-to-redact-trump-s-face-1770021222053">Shocking Epstein Files debacle: DOJ exposes nude victims in catastrophic file dump, but remembers to redact Trump's face</a><h2>'Apologise' now</h2>At the heated congressional hearing, Jayapal directly addressed Epstein survivors who were present in the audience to stand up if they had not been able to meet with Donald Trump's justice department. 11 members of the audience stood up, to which the Democrat asked Bondi to "turn to them now and apologise for what your Department of Justice has put them through".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explosive-epstein-files-accuse-trump-of-raping-13-year-old-murdering-a-new-born-white-house-says-this-about-allegations-1769823565436">Explosive Epstein files accuse Trump of raping 13-year-old, murdering a newborn; White House says THIS about allegations</a>However, Trump's attorney general refused to apologise to the survivors and instead fired back, seeking to blame her predecessor, Merrick Garland. She claimed that in his four years as the AG, Garland was never asked about Epstein and also sought to drag former President Joe Biden through the mud. However, her exasperated rant was cut off by Jayapal, who said, "This is not about anybody that came before you."Watch the heated exchange here:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">MUST WATCH: Pam Bondi has a public meltdown when Pramila Jayapal asked if she&#39;d apologize to Epstein survivors. Everyone needs to see this. <a href="https://t.co/IJaFKV3I5e">pic.twitter.com/IJaFKV3I5e</a>&mdash; First To Hear It (@firsttohearit) <a href="https://twitter.com/firsttohearit/status/2021613630488215935?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"It is about you taking responsibility for your Department of Justice and the harm that it has done to the survivors who are standing right behind you and are waiting for you to turn to them and apologise," said the Democrat. However, Bondi indignantly replied she wasn't going "to get in the gutter with these theatrics," before muttering "unprofessional".Also at the hearing, Bondi faced accusations of lying under oath to protect US President Donald Trump, who is known to have been friends with the convicted sex offender for years. Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pam-bondi-lied-under-oath-to-protect-potus-democrats-tell-ag-to-resign-amid-trump-epstein-links-watch-video-1770863293332">Pam Bondi accused of 'lying under oath': Is she trying to protect Trump? Video</a>

Pam Bondi refused to apologise to Epstein survivors during a tense House hearing, sparking a shouting match with Rep. Pramila Jayapal. She instead compared tendering an apology to “getting in the gutter” and “theatrics”. Scroll down to watch the full infuriating exchange.

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday (Feb 11) refused to apologise to survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's nefarious underage sex racket, even after being pressed to do so at a House Judiciary Committee hearing. Bondi rebuffed Representative Pramilla Jayapal's request to turn around and address the victims of the convicted sex offender, and instead triggered a shouting match, accusing the Democrat lawmaker of "theatrics". This comes days after the Bondi-led Department of Justice (DoJ) released a massive tranche of over 3 million documents from the Epstein files cache, most of which were riddled with redactions. Despite the heavily blacked-out sections, the file release, as per reports, contained nudes and identities of the victims, even as the identities of the offenders were redacted. Also read | Shocking Epstein Files debacle: DOJ exposes nude victims in catastrophic file dump, but remembers to redact Trump's face 'Apologise' now At the heated congressional hearing, Jayapal directly addressed Epstein survivors who were present in the audience to stand up if they had not been able to meet with Donald Trump's justice department. 11 members of the audience stood up, to which the Democrat asked Bondi to "turn to them now and apologise for what your Department of Justice has put them through". Also read | Explosive Epstein files accuse Trump of raping 13-year-old, murdering a newborn; White House says THIS about allegations However, Trump's attorney general refused to apologise to the survivors and instead fired back, seeking to blame her predecessor, Merrick Garland. She claimed that in his four years as the AG, Garland was never asked about Epstein and also sought to drag former President Joe Biden through the mud. However, her exasperated rant was cut off by Jayapal, who said, "This is not about anybody that came before you." Watch the heated exchange here:

Pam Bondi refused to apologise to Epstein survivors during a tense House hearing, sparking a shouting match with Rep. Pramila Jayapal. She instead compared tendering an apology to “getting in the gutter” and “theatrics”. Scroll down to watch the full exchange.

Epstein hearing turns tense as Pam Bondi refuses to apologise to survivors, says she won’t 'get in the gutter'. Watch!

US President Donald Trump's name appears in the Epstein Files over one million times, revealed a top democrat who reviewed the unredacted version of the notorious documents. The jaw-dropping revelation was made by Congressman Jamie Raskin, the senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. Notably, a heavily redacted version of the files, with over three million documents, was released to the public in January of this year. The massive release included emails, photos, and videos, among other things.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/-i-loved-the-torture-video-recipient-of-horrifying-epstein-email-finally-identified-doj-epstein-files-release-1770782784202">‘I loved the torture video’: Recipient of horrifying Epstein email FINALLY identified</a><h2>Tons of redacted stuff, millions of Trump mentions</h2>Speaking to Axios, Raskin acknowledged that "there's ton of redacted stuff," and that when he ran a search for the POTUS's name in the unredacted files, "it appears more than a million times. So it's all over the place".He later clarified that he "'Trump,' 'Donald or Don' and it came up with more than a million results." The Democrat added that he "obviously didn't have the time to review each one, and I obviously cannot guarantee that every mention of a Donald is Donald Trump as opposed to some other Donald."He revealed that the Mar-a-Lago exchange was "one of the first documents I came across." He was referring to an exchange where Epstein’s legal team reportedly quoted Trump as saying Epstein "was not a member" of his Mar-a-Lago club but remained a "guest" who had never been asked to leave.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/epstein-files-latest-doj-reveals-new-names-after-pressure-from-lawmakers-who-are-the-newly-named-individuals-1770772043819">Epstein files: DoJ reveals names of paedophile's co-conspirators after pressure from lawmakers. Who are the newly named individuals?</a><h2>3 million Epstein files still unreleased?</h2>On January 30, the Department of Justice released a trove of over 3.5 million Epstein files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.While a huge chunk of these files is redacted from the public, government representatives have been given a database tool to review the files. However, Raskin said that the "DOJ database review tool given to Members is confusing, unreliable, and clunky". He also revealed that the members have been given four computers and can use them for review between nine and five."To me, this whole rollout of saying that members can come from nine to five to sit at those four computers is just part of the cover-up," asserted the Democrat. He added that the 3 million documents that the DoJ hasn't publicly released "are the ones I'd like to see". &nbsp;

A Democrat reviewing the unredacted Epstein files says Donald Trump’s name appears over a million times in the database, though not every mention may refer to the president. What exactly do those references contain, and why are millions of documents still hidden? Scroll down.

US President Donald Trump's name appears in the Epstein Files over one million times, revealed a top democrat who reviewed the unredacted version of the notorious documents. The jaw-dropping revelation was made by Congressman Jamie Raskin, the senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. Notably, a heavily redacted version of the files, with over three million documents, was released to the public in January of this year. The massive release included emails, photos, and videos, among other things. Also read | ‘I loved the torture video’: Recipient of horrifying Epstein email FINALLY identified Tons of redacted stuff, millions of Trump mentions Speaking to Axios, Raskin acknowledged that "there's ton of redacted stuff," and that when he ran a search for the POTUS's name in the unredacted files, "it appears more than a million times. So it's all over the place". He later clarified that he "'Trump,' 'Donald or Don' and it came up with more than a million results." The Democrat added that he "obviously didn't have the time to review each one, and I obviously cannot guarantee that every mention of a Donald is Donald Trump as opposed to some other Donald." He revealed that the Mar-a-Lago exchange was "one of the first documents I came across." He was referring to an exchange where Epstein’s legal team reportedly quoted Trump as saying Epstein "was not a member" of his Mar-a-Lago club but remained a "guest" who had never been asked to leave. Also read | Epstein files: DoJ reveals names of paedophile's co-conspirators after pressure from lawmakers. Who are the newly named individuals? 3 million Epstein files still unreleased? On January 30, the Department of Justice released a trove of over 3.5 million Epstein files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. While a huge chunk of these files is redacted from the public, government representatives have been given a database tool to review the files. However, Raskin said that the "DOJ database review tool given to Members is confusing, unreliable, and clunky". He also revealed that the members have been given four computers and can use them for review between nine and five. "To me, this whole rollout of saying that members can come from nine to five to sit at those four computers is just part of the cover-up," asserted the Democrat. He added that the 3 million documents that the DoJ hasn't publicly released "are the ones I'd like to see".

A Democrat reviewing the unredacted Epstein files says Donald Trump’s name appears over a million times in the database, though not every mention may refer to the president. What exactly do those references contain, and why are millions of documents still hidden? Scroll down.

Unredacted Epstein files have Trump’s name 'everywhere,' POTUS mentioned 'more than a million' times

Representative Ro Khanna on Tuesday (Feb 10) named six “wealthy, powerful men” whose names were originally redacted in the Jeffrey Epstein files. Reading the names aloud on the House floor, the Democrat said he had forced the DoJ's hand into releasing the names. Democrats also released the identity of the individual to whom the paedophile Epstein sent an alarming email with mentions of “torture”.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/epstein-files-latest-doj-reveals-new-names-after-pressure-from-lawmakers-who-are-the-newly-named-individuals-1770772043819">Epstein files: DoJ reveals names of paedophile's co-conspirators after pressure from lawmakers. Who are the newly named individuals?</a>This comes after Khanna and Rep. Thomas Massie reviewed unredacted materials related to the late convicted sex offender and demanded that the Justice Department disclose these individuals’ identities publicly if their redactions did not adhere to Congress's established terms. Here's all you need to know.<h2>Identity of person behind alarming 'torture video' revealed</h2>Another previously redacted identity linked to a 2009 email from Epstein referencing a "torture video" has also been revealed. The email, which was part of the recently released batch of over three million documents, read "where are you? are you ok I loved the torture video".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/epstein-files-bombshell-email-about-trump-and-mar-a-lago-mysteriously-redacted-from-doj-release-democrats-allege-cover-up-1770696241019">Damning email contradicting Trump claims on kicking Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago mysteriously redacted, Democrats EXPOSE alleged cover-up</a>In an X post, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche Officials revealed that the email recipient was a sultan. He said that the name was unredacted in a separate file ‘EFTA00666117’. The file reveals that the Sultan in question is Emirati businessman Sultan Bin Sulayem. At this time, it remains unclear what "torture video" Epstein was referring to in the message.<img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260211/image-1770784091570.png"><h2>Identities of six “wealthy, powerful men” revealed</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepThomasMassie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepThomasMassie</a> and I forced last night the DOJ to disclose the identities of 6 men: Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze, Leonic Leonov, Nicola Caputo, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, and billionaire businessman Leslie Wexner. I share details of what more we learned to hold the… <a href="https://t.co/5JwKwRUNIF">pic.twitter.com/5JwKwRUNIF</a>&mdash; Rep. Ro Khanna (@RepRoKhanna) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRoKhanna/status/2021266289910563273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Among the latest revelations are the identities of six “wealthy, powerful men” whose names were previously redacted by the DoJ. They are Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze, Leonic Leonov, Nicola Caputo, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, and billionaire businessman Leslie Wexner.&nbsp; Also named are retail billionaire Les Wexner, Epstein’s longtime assistant Lesley Groff, and former French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel. All three were listed as co-conspirators in a 2019 FBI document connected to the investigation. The latest disclosures followed complaints from lawmakers who reviewed unredacted material. Republican Representative Thomas Massie said several names had been unnecessarily hidden in earlier releases.&nbsp;

US lawmakers have revealed new names from the Epstein files after reviewing unredacted documents, including the identity of a mysterious “sultan” linked to a horrifying “torture video” email. Scroll down to read.

Representative Ro Khanna on Tuesday (Feb 10) named six “wealthy, powerful men” whose names were originally redacted in the Jeffrey Epstein files. Reading the names aloud on the House floor, the Democrat said he had forced the DoJ's hand into releasing the names. Democrats also released the identity of the individual to whom the paedophile Epstein sent an alarming email with mentions of “torture”. Also read | Epstein files: DoJ reveals names of paedophile's co-conspirators after pressure from lawmakers. Who are the newly named individuals? This comes after Khanna and Rep. Thomas Massie reviewed unredacted materials related to the late convicted sex offender and demanded that the Justice Department disclose these individuals’ identities publicly if their redactions did not adhere to Congress's established terms. Here's all you need to know. Identity of person behind alarming 'torture video' revealed Another previously redacted identity linked to a 2009 email from Epstein referencing a "torture video" has also been revealed. The email, which was part of the recently released batch of over three million documents, read "where are you? are you ok I loved the torture video". Also read | Damning email contradicting Trump claims on kicking Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago mysteriously redacted, Democrats EXPOSE alleged cover-up In an X post, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche Officials revealed that the email recipient was a sultan. He said that the name was unredacted in a separate file ‘EFTA00666117’. The file reveals that the Sultan in question is Emirati businessman Sultan Bin Sulayem. At this time, it remains unclear what "torture video" Epstein was referring to in the message. Identities of six “wealthy, powerful men” revealed

US lawmakers have revealed new names from the Epstein files after reviewing unredacted documents, including the identity of a mysterious “sultan” linked to a horrifying “torture video” email. Scroll down to read.

‘I loved the torture video’: Recipient of horrifying Epstein email FINALLY identified

The US Justice Department has released more names from the Jeffrey Epstein case files amid mounting pressure from lawmakers who were granted access to less-redacted versions of key documents. The move comes amid growing scrutiny of how federal authorities handled the publication of millions of records linked to the late financier and convicted sex offender.<h2>Who are the new people named in the disturbing Epstein files?</h2>Among the newly unredacted individuals are six “wealthy, powerful men” who were previously redacted by the DoJ. They are Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze, Leonic Leonov, Nicola Caputo, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, and billionaire businessman Leslie Wexner.&nbsp; Along with Wexner, Epstein’s longtime assistant Lesley Groff, and former French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel were listed as co-conspirators in a 2019 FBI document connected to the investigation.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explosive-epstein-files-accuse-trump-of-raping-13-year-old-murdering-a-new-born-white-house-says-this-about-allegations-1769823565436">Explosive Epstein files accuse Trump of raping 13-year-old, murdering a newborn; White House says THIS about allegations</a>Wexner, the former head of L Brands, has previously said he cut ties with Epstein in 2007 and denied knowledge of any illegal activity. A legal representative of Wexner in December told the press, that prosecutors had indicated Wexner was "neither a co-conspirator nor target in any respect".Groff’s attorney, in a statement to CNN, also said she had never been informed she was considered a co-conspirator and had cooperated voluntarily with investigators and "was told that she was not being prosecuted". Groff "never seen this document and was unaware of it," they said.Brunel, who had been charged with rape of a minor and other offences in France, died in prison in 2022. Authorities ruled his death a suicide. He had denied wrongdoing.Democratic Representative Ro Khanna on Tuesday (Feb 10) identified six previously redacted names on the House floor, saying he had forced the DoJ's hand into releasing them.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/trump-health-secretary-robert-f-kennedy-jr-s-bizarre-link-with-paedophile-revealed-in-latest-epstein-file-dump-dinosaur-hunt-emails-1770444507541">Trump health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s bizarre link with paedophile revealed in latest Epstein file dump</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Yesterday <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRoKhanna?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepRoKhanna</a> and I found a list of names and photos in the Epstein files that DOJ had improperly redacted. DOJ promptly unredacted the men’s names as well as several women in the list that we didn’t flag. The two redacted names are victims. <a href="https://t.co/fLLzGW9rR7">https://t.co/fLLzGW9rR7</a> <a href="https://t.co/DTfK30Kppk">pic.twitter.com/DTfK30Kppk</a>&mdash; Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepThomasMassie/status/2021235321942217085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Pressure from Congress</h2>Blanche told CNN that the department was not concealing information, noting that Wexner’s name already appears "thousands of times" in previously released records. "DOJ is hiding nothing," Blanche insisted in an email exchange with the publication.The latest disclosures followed complaints from lawmakers who reviewed unredacted material. Republican Representative Thomas Massie said several names had been unnecessarily hidden in earlier releases.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The US Justice Department has released additional names from the Jeffrey Epstein files after lawmakers pushed for less-redacted documents. Newly identified individuals are listed as co-conspirators. All you need to know.

The US Justice Department has released more names from the Jeffrey Epstein case files amid mounting pressure from lawmakers who were granted access to less-redacted versions of key documents. The move comes amid growing scrutiny of how federal authorities handled the publication of millions of records linked to the late financier and convicted sex offender. Who are the new people named in the disturbing Epstein files? Among the newly unredacted individuals are six “wealthy, powerful men” who were previously redacted by the DoJ. They are Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze, Leonic Leonov, Nicola Caputo, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, and billionaire businessman Leslie Wexner. Along with Wexner, Epstein’s longtime assistant Lesley Groff, and former French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel were listed as co-conspirators in a 2019 FBI document connected to the investigation. Also read | Explosive Epstein files accuse Trump of raping 13-year-old, murdering a newborn; White House says THIS about allegations Wexner, the former head of L Brands, has previously said he cut ties with Epstein in 2007 and denied knowledge of any illegal activity. A legal representative of Wexner in December told the press, that prosecutors had indicated Wexner was "neither a co-conspirator nor target in any respect". Groff’s attorney, in a statement to CNN, also said she had never been informed she was considered a co-conspirator and had cooperated voluntarily with investigators and "was told that she was not being prosecuted". Groff "never seen this document and was unaware of it," they said. Brunel, who had been charged with rape of a minor and other offences in France, died in prison in 2022. Authorities ruled his death a suicide. He had denied wrongdoing. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna on Tuesday (Feb 10) identified six previously redacted names on the House floor, saying he had forced the DoJ's hand into releasing them. Also read | Trump health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s bizarre link with paedophile revealed in latest Epstein file dump

The US Justice Department has released additional names from the Jeffrey Epstein files after lawmakers pushed for less-redacted documents. Newly identified individuals are listed as co-conspirators. All you need to know.

Epstein files: DoJ reveals names of paedophile's co-conspirators after pressure from lawmakers. Who are the newly named individuals?

The political world is in a tailspin after newly released documents, uncovered through the Epstein Files Transparency Act, revealed the shocking depth of the relationship between Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein.

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