13 of the most questionable redactions from the Epstein files
13 of the most questionable redactions from the Epstein files
Analysis by Aaron Blake, CNNMon, February 9, 2026 at 8:17 PM UTC
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Jeffrey Epstein is seen in this image from Justice Department files released by the House Oversight Committee Democrats on December 18, 2025. - House Oversight Committee Democrats/Reuters
Monday is a big day in the long-running — and still very much not-over — saga of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
That’s because we could begin to learn more about the Justice Department’s controversial redactions, when lawmakers have an opportunity to review the unredacted files.
One prominent House Democrat, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, said Monday afternoon that he had reviewed the unredacted documents and saw “tons of completely unnecessary redactions.”
“I saw the names of lots of people who were redacted for mysterious or baffling or inscrutable reasons,” Raskin said.
As millions of documents have trickled out and been sorted through, one of the major subplots is what DOJ chose to redact. Its redaction decisions in many cases went well beyond what the legislation passed by Congress called for.
Perhaps no redactions have garnered more attention than the suspected co-conspirators who are described in internal Justice Department documents and others who exchanged eyebrow-raising emails with Epstein.
The latter instances include emails that read as if people were evaluating and even scouting women or girls for Epstein. In other cases, they reference questionable behavior.
The redactions have raised concerns among Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California, who led the charge on the bill that forced the Trump administration to release the Epstein files. They’ve also raised concerns among Epstein’s survivors. One told CNN that DOJ was “shielding predators.” Another said DOJ has “protected the Epstein class with blanket redactions.”
But on Monday, lawmakers, including Massie and Khanna, will have the chance to evaluate the redactions and possibly raise any concerns when the Justice Department begins allowing them to review the unredacted files.
CNN wrote about some of these emails last week. The Justice Department suggested any such redactions were women or girls who might have been victims at one point.
“In many instances, as it has been well documented publicly, those who were originally victims became participants and co-conspirators,” a DOJ official told CNN. “We did not redact any names of men, only female victims.” FBI and law enforcement names were also redacted, the DOJ official said.
So which documents are at issue? Below are some noteworthy examples.
‘Your littlest girl was a little naughty’
Images released by the US Department of Justice from their files on Jeffrey Epstein have featured redactions, which in many cases appeared to go beyond what the legislation passed by Congress called for. - Department of Justice
In a 2014 email, a sender whose name is redacted emails Epstein: “Thank you for a fun night… Your littlest girl was a little naughty.”
‘I found at least 3 very good young poor …’
Images released by the US Department of Justice from their files on Jeffrey Epstein. - Department of Justice
In a 2018 email, a redacted sender emails Epstein: “I found at least 3 very good young poor but we was so tired.”
The sender then suggests the subject of the email was women or girls: “Meet this one, not the beauty queen but we both likes her a lot.”
‘She is like Lolita from Nabokov , femme miniature :)’
Images released by the US Department of Justice from their files on Jeffrey Epstein. - Department of Justice
In a 2017 email, a redacted sender emails Epstein, “I met [REDACTED] today. She is like Lolita from Nabokov , femme miniature :) So now I should send you her type of candidates only ?”
“Femme miniature” in French literally translates to small woman. “Lolita from Nabokov” refers to Vladimir Nabokov’s 1955 novel about a middle-aged man who falls in love with a 12-year-old girl and sexually abuses her. (Epstein’s airplane has often been dubbed the “Lolita Express” because of allegations that it was used to exploit girls.)
The draft indictment
Images released by the US Department of Justice from their files on Jeffrey Epstein. - Department of Justice
Some of the biggest news to come out of the latest document dump was that we finally laid eyes on a draft indictment of Epstein from the 2000s, before he escaped with a sweetheart deal.
The draft indictment is particularly notable because it includes three co-conspirators that prosecutors apparently considered charging. The co-conspirators are described as being employed by Epstein, but their names are redacted.
A chart with other suspects redacted
Images released by the US Department of Justice from their files on Jeffrey Epstein. - Department of Justice
The documents also include a chart, apparently from law enforcement, that shows Epstein, his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and his longtime assistant Lesley Groff (whose first name is misspelled as “Leslie”). Groff’s lawyer told CNN his client had no comment.
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But redacted are three employees and a “girlfriend” of Epstein’s whom authorities thought might be recruiting for Epstein and in some cases otherwise participating in crimes.
It says of one of them: “Unknown if she was directly responsible for recruiting girls but at least 10 girls state she is the direct point of contact for scheduling his massage appointments.”
Other such charts feature similar redactions.
Sending Epstein details of women and their appearances
Images released by the US Department of Justice from their files on Jeffrey Epstein. - Department of Justice
In a 2017 email, a redacted person emails Epstein detailed information about women to be considered for an unspecified opportunity.
One is described as wanting “the job badly. But not as pretty as other applicants.” Another is labeled “not very young but beautiful and diligent, well educated and simple, not ambitious.”
‘And this one is (i think) totally your girl.’
Images released by the US Department of Justice from their files on Jeffrey Epstein. - Department of Justice
In one extended 2015 email exchange between Epstein and a redacted interlocutor, Epstein asks, “any friends for jeffrey while you are recovering?”
The person responds by citing a close friend described as “Sweet girl. 20y. American.” (Epstein responds that the person looks like the sender, suggesting the email included a photo.) The person later cites someone else: “She’s australian, super cool, 23y, lot of fun ;)) (dark hair girl at picture) .”
The person later adds: “I’m always think about you when I’m meeting new girls.” And then: “And this one is (i think) totally your girl. … Just medsaged her to check up.”
‘I loved the torture video’
Images released by the US Department of Justice from their files on Jeffrey Epstein. - Department of Justice
In a 2009 email, Epstein writes a brief email to a redacted recipient that includes the words, “where are you? are you ok I loved the torture video.”
‘New Brazilian just arrived, sexy and cute, 19yo’
In a 2013 email, a redacted sender from a modeling agency writes to Epstein: “New Brazilian just arrived, sexy and cute, 19yo.” The email appears to come with images attached. (CNN has reached out to the modeling agency.)
In other versions of the same email released by DOJ, the sender’s affiliation with the modeling agency is redacted. Some versions of the email also included an “=” sign in place of the “1” – the files include many documents with “=” in place of characters – leading some to believe the email described a 9-year old. But it did not.
‘I just saw the most beautiful little girl on Madison with long soft blonde hair’
Images released by the US Department of Justice from their files on Jeffrey Epstein. - Department of Justice
In a 2014 email, a redacted sender emails Epstein: “I can’t take it anymore!!!!!!! I just saw the most beautiful little girl on Madison with long soft blonde hair.”
‘My favorite from Lithuania, [REDACTED], 19.’
Images released by the US Department of Justice from their files on Jeffrey Epstein. - Department of Justice
In a 2018 email, a redacted sender writes an email that includes an image, but which appears as a broken image in the file that was released.
“My favorite from Lithuania, [REDACTED], 19. Will meet when I am there,” the sender says.
Epstein responds: “full name instagram?”
A photo of a woman in a SpaceX shirt
In a 2013 email, a redacted person sends Epstein an email with no text but that includes a photo of a female posing while wearing a SpaceX shirt. The person’s face is blocked out.
An email about 14- and 15-year-old girls and ‘reproductive age’
Images released by the US Department of Justice from their files on Jeffrey Epstein. - Department of Justice
In a 2015 email, a redacted sender emails Epstein about teenage girls.
“the key are the 14 to 15 year old girls—i am a sexual pervert because i say they are now of a reproductive age?” the sender says.
The sender adds: “being called a sexual pervert is no fun. less so if you have served time for the crime. as i have not—they are calling me one merely for not urging your death by beheading.”
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