{"id":2568315,"date":"2026-02-10T12:11:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T17:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thomas-massie-and-todd-blanche-trade-barbs-over-redactions-in-epstein-files\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T12:13:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T17:13:34","slug":"thomas-massie-and-todd-blanche-trade-barbs-over-redactions-in-epstein-files","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thomas-massie-and-todd-blanche-trade-barbs-over-redactions-in-epstein-files\/","title":{"rendered":"Thomas Massie and Todd Blanche trade barbs over redactions in Epstein files"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthomas-massie-and-todd-blanche-trade-barbs-over-redactions-in-epstein-files%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2568315&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A Washington Examiner report centers on a public clash between Rep. Thomas Massie and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche over redactions in Epstein-related files, framed by the Epstein Files Transparency Act\u2019s push for broad, timely disclosure.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; massie (R-KY) criticized the DOJ for redacting names of alleged co-conspirators and other perhaps identifying details in unredacted Epstein documents he viewed, arguing the law requires more transparency.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Blanche defended the DOJ, saying redactions are required to protect victims\u2019 facts and other sensitive data, and that the department is complying with the law.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The dispute includes specific revelations, such as redaction of a sender\u2019s email in a torture-video-related email involving Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, and debate over whether nonvictim names should also be redacted.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) say the DOJ did not release all documents in full and on time, prompting further congressional scrutiny.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The article notes other developments: Les Wexner\u2019s name was initially redacted but later unredacted in at least one document; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nancy Mace criticized the DOJ\u2019s handling of redactions and pledged to review Epstein files themselves.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The DOJ has released more than 3.5 million pages of investigative material, along with thousands of videos and images, as part of transparency efforts.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Maxwell, an Epstein accomplice, invoked the Fifth Amendment during a closed-door deposition, with several more depositions planned, including Wexner (Feb. 18) and Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton (testifying Feb. 27 and 26, respectively) with public hearings being sought by the Clintons.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The overall context is congressional oversight of the Epstein investigations and ongoing debates over how much information the DOJ should publicly disclose.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Thomas Massie and Todd Blanche trade barbs over redactions in Epstein files<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2500189\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thomas-massie\/\">Thomas Massie<\/a> (R-KY) is taking the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\/\">Justice Department<\/a> to task for redacting the names or personally identifiable information of alleged co-conspirators to convicted sex offender <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jeffrey-epstein\/\">Jeffrey Epstein<\/a> after the congressman viewed unredacted versions of the Epstein files on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>Massie disclosed the latest revelations from his first viewing of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/epstein-files\/\">Epstein files<\/a> in a series of social media posts late Monday. The posts were directly aimed at Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who maintains the department is complying with a law passed by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\">Congress<\/a> late last year.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4451912\/save-america-act-house-immigration\/\">Republicans look to usher through voter ID legislation for third time with SAVE America Act<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4452185\/watch-live-immigration-officials-testify-house-hearing\/\">WATCH LIVE: ICE and Border Patrol officials testify at House hearing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4451502\/dhs-leaders-oversight-hearing-congress-reckoning\/\">DHS leaders face tense oversight hearing in Congress: &#8216;The start of a reckoning&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Providing a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepThomasMassie\/status\/2021059471804596548\">summary of his findings<\/a> after looking at the government files, Massie said the DOJ &ldquo;unredacted an FBI file that LABELS two individuals as co-conspirators,&rdquo; &ldquo;unredacted a file that lists several men who might be implicated,&rdquo; and &ldquo;tacitly admitted that Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem was the sender of the torture video.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Bin Sulayem, who leads logistics company DP World, allegedly emailed Epstein about a &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >torture video&#038;rdquo<\/a>; that Epstein said he &ldquo;loved&rdquo; in 2009. The Emirati businessman&rsquo;s email address was redacted in one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hollywood-director-shares-new-details-about-heath-ledgers-2008-death\/\" title=\"New details on Heath Ledger&#039;s 2008 death revealed by Hollywood director\">recently released investigative documents<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A Sultan seems to have sent this.<br \/>DOJ should make this public.<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/v5Z5f2sMpc\">https:\/\/t.co\/v5Z5f2sMpc<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/F7j68L7kQW\">pic.twitter.com\/F7j68L7kQW<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepThomasMassie\/status\/2020997755695468890?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 9, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Blanche said only the sultan&rsquo;s email address was redacted instead of his name, which can be seen in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/epstein\/files\/DataSet%209\/EFTA00666117.pdf\">separate document<\/a>. An email address is considered a piece of personally identifiable information, for which the deputy attorney general noted redactions are required under law.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Be honest, and stop grandstanding,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DAGToddBlanche\/status\/2021039636831781134\">Blanche told Massie<\/a>. The congressman later fired back.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Until tonight no one knew who sent the torture video to Epstein,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepThomasMassie\/status\/2021059523893719464\">Massie said<\/a>. &ldquo;I went to DOJ, unredacted the email, and reverse searched the email to discover it was a Sultans. Our law requires VICTIM&rsquo;s information to be redacted, not information of men who sent Epstein torture porn!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Blanche also faced pushback from Massie over the DOJ&rsquo;s redactions of nonvictims&rsquo; names in documents that contain victims&rsquo; names too. Massie argued that both types of information do not have to be hidden. In response, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DAGToddBlanche\/status\/2021046091169587574\">Blanche said<\/a> &ldquo;all non-victim names&rdquo; were &ldquo;unredacted&rdquo; from one particular document and insisted the department &ldquo;is committed to transparency.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Massie felt otherwise after visiting the DOJ with Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ro-khanna\/\">Ro Khanna<\/a> (D-CA) to view the Epstein files.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Here DOJ acts as if they were justified in redacting the men&rsquo;s names simply because the document contains victims names,&rdquo; the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepThomasMassie\/status\/2021059479308296229\">Kentucky Republican said<\/a>. &ldquo;Tonight they learned you can redact victim names while still publishing the other names, per our law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Epstein Files Transparency Act compels the DOJ to release all of its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/subpoena-issued-after-whistleblower-steps-forward-with-info-on-tim-walz-and-chinese-communist-party\/\" title=\"Subpoena Issued After Whistleblower Steps Forward with Info on Tim Walz and Chinese Communist Party\">unclassified documents related<\/a> to Epstein within 30 days. Massie and Khanna argue the DOJ did not release the documents in full and on time, which is why they are getting involved to view the files personally.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier Monday, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepThomasMassie\/status\/2020998987960950877\">Massie suggested<\/a> the name of a &ldquo;well known retired CEO&rdquo; and co-conspirator was redacted in the publicly available versions of the Epstein files. Blanche revealed that the executive was former Victoria&rsquo;s Secret CEO Les Wexner, whose name was later unredacted.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have just unredacted Les Wexner&rsquo;s name from this document, but his name already appears in the files thousands of times,&rdquo; Blanche <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DAGToddBlanche\/status\/2021043176350355731\">wrote on X<\/a>. &ldquo;DOJ is hiding nothing.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/alexandria-ocasio-cortez\/\">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez<\/a> (D-NY) also criticized the DOJ over the previous redaction.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Why did you redact Les Wexner&rsquo;s name here in the first place?&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AOC\/status\/2021067966423405000?s=20\">she asked<\/a>. &ldquo;Are there other documents where you have redacted his name, which is against Congress&rsquo; orders?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nancy-mace\/\">Nancy Mace<\/a> (R-SC), who has been particularly outspoken about Epstein and the disclosure of the related files, posed a similar question.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If Les Wexner is listed by the DOJ\/FBI as a &lsquo;co-conspirator&rsquo; in the Epstein files, why isn&rsquo;t he in jail?&rdquo; she <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepNancyMace\/status\/2021200311319515206\">posted on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Mace said she will be visiting the DOJ on Tuesday to view the Epstein files herself.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When I head to DOJ today, my primary interest is in information about co-conspirators,&rdquo; she <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepNancyMace\/status\/2021227326734774614\">told her followers<\/a>. &ldquo;I am digging into what files to view unredacted. If you have suggestions based on documents you&rsquo;ve read about, please post the EFTA document ID and screenshot below so I can add it to the list of documents to review.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ released <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4440630\/doj-release-millions-new-jeffrey-epstein-documents-2000-videos\/\">more than 3.5 million pages<\/a> of investigative material in addition to thousands of videos and images late last month. Blanche delivered the announcement, describing the move as part of the department&rsquo;s effort to comply with the law requiring broad transparency around the federal Epstein investigations.<\/p>\n<p>Congress is particularly interested in the issue and has taken steps to get more answers on Epstein&rsquo;s illicit actions.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4451951\/massie-khanna-doj-redacted-incriminated-names-epstein-files\/\">MASSIE AND KHANNA CLAIM DOJ REDACTED NAMES OF &lsquo;LIKELY INCRIMINATED&rsquo; MEN IN EPSTEIN FILES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>During a closed-door deposition on Monday, Epstein accomplice <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ghislaine-maxwell\/\">Ghislaine Maxwell<\/a> invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to answer questions until she is granted clemency by the president. Five more depositions in the Epstein case are scheduled over the course of the next month, according to House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-comer\/\">James Comer<\/a> (R-KY).<\/p>\n<p>Wexner&rsquo;s deposition is scheduled for Feb. 18. Former President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bill-clinton\/\">Bill Clinton<\/a> and former Secretary of State <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hillary-clinton\/\">Hillary Clinton<\/a> are set to testify before Congress on Feb. 27 and 26, respectively. The couple is calling for a public hearing instead of a closed-door interview.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Massie, Blanche clash over Epstein file redactions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2568316,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-collage-afy8x339n-1770738501123-e1770738587636.jpg?1770720575&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[25914,9006,4850,5894,10058],"class_list":["post-2568315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-blanche","tag-epstein","tag-massie","tag-politics","tag-redactions"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-collage-afy8x339n-1770738501123-e1770738587636.jpg?1770720575&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2568315"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568315\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2568319,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568315\/revisions\/2568319"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2568316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2568315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2568315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2568315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}