type: timeline_event
Beginning February 9, 2026, the Department of Justice allowed members of Congress to view unredacted Epstein files in a reading room at DOJ headquarters, but only under highly restrictive conditions designed to limit meaningful oversight. Assistant Attorney General Patrick Davis's February 6 letter notified all 535 members they could access documents from 9am to 6pm Monday-Friday, but with no electronic devices, no staff assistance, and only handwritten notes permitted after providing 24 hours' notice. Only four computers were available for the entire Congress.
Representatives Massie and Khanna held a press conference after reviewing files, reporting they identified at least six men who are "likely incriminated" by their inclusion but whose names DOJ redacted—contradicting the Epstein Files Transparency Act's requirement to limit redactions only to victim information and active criminal investigations. Representatives Raskin and Moskowitz told reporters that key documents retained redactions despite DOJ's pledge of full unredacted access, including Trump's name "in a number of different places," particularly in conversations between Epstein and Trump's lawyers discussing the 2009 plea deal brokered by then-U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta.
Senator Cynthia Lummis stated after her review: "Now I see what the big deal is. And the members of Congress that have been pushing this were not wrong." With over 3 million pages released and 6 million total in DOJ possession, Representative Raskin estimated it could take years for thorough congressional review using only four computers. The arrangement creates the appearance of transparency while ensuring Congress cannot effectively exercise oversight—members must travel off-site to DOJ-controlled facilities, navigate cumbersome software under DOJ staff surveillance, without assistance from their own staff, making comprehensive review functionally impossible.