Massie Confronts Bondi Over Selective Redaction of Billionaire in Epstein Files

During a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) produced FBI documents released by the Department of Justice that left the names of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims visible while fully redacting the name of billionaire Leslie Wexner. Wexner, the founder of L Brands with a net worth exceeding $6 billion, was Epstein’s primary benefactor for decades and was identified in FBI files as a co-conspirator in sex trafficking. Within 40 minutes of Massie catching Attorney General Pam Bondi 'red-handed' during the live broadcast, the DOJ restored Wexner’s name to the public file, proving the agency possessed the immediate capability for transparency but chose concealment.

The power dynamic on display shifted from legal oversight to personal defense as Bondi reportedly arrived with pre-written insults for committee members rather than legal briefings. Despite the presence of Epstein survivors in the hearing room, Bondi did not acknowledge them or make eye contact when they signaled their presence. Massie’s line of questioning highlighted a 'hierarchy of privacy' where the federal government appears to prioritize the reputations of high-net-worth donors over the basic safety and dignity of trafficking victims.

Following the hearing, Massie publicly labeled the current Department of Justice as 'the Epstein administration,' suggesting that the 'Epstein class' of elite donors continues to exert influence over DOJ appointments and prosecutorial discretion. This marks a significant rift between populist members of Congress and the executive branch, as Massie accused the administration of failing to deliver on promises of transparency regarding the network that facilitated Epstein’s crimes.

The investigation took a darker turn when Massie joined Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Nancy Mace in issuing a public 'not suicidal' declaration. Massie listed his specific health habits, the condition of his vehicle's brakes, and his proficiency in swimming and firearms as a preemptive measure against potential retaliation. When sitting members of the U.S. Congress feel compelled to publicly state they are not a threat to themselves after investigating elite corruption, it suggests a perceived threat of extrajudicial force that remains unaddressed by mainstream outlets.

For regular citizens, this case demonstrates that the rule of law is applied unequally. The state demonstrated it will protect the identities of the billionaire class even when implicated in felony sex trafficking, while simultaneously failing to protect the privacy of the victims of those same crimes. This suggests that without direct, public confrontation, the mechanisms of federal law enforcement function as a shield for the powerful rather than a sword for the vulnerable.