On Monday, February 9, 2026, a pivotal chapter in the ongoing saga of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation will unfold as members of Congress gain access to unredacted versions of the infamous Epstein files. This move, announced by the U.S. Justice Department in a letter obtained by MS NOW, comes after months of mounting criticism over heavy redactions and delays that have left lawmakers, survivors, and the public clamoring for transparency.
According to MS NOW, Assistant Attorney General Patrick Davis outlined the strict protocols for this unprecedented congressional review. Senators and representatives will be permitted to examine the files on computers in a secure reading room at the Justice Department. The rules are clear: no electronic devices, no staff, and no copying or removal of documents—just handwritten notes, and only after providing at least 24 hours' notice. The DOJ, in turn, will keep meticulous records of who views the files and when.
This development comes on the heels of the Justice Department’s release of more than three million pages of Epstein-related records, a trove that includes 2,000 videos and 18,000 images. The release, mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, was supposed to be completed by December 19, but the most recent batch only dropped last week. The files reference a slew of prominent individuals—among them President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Elon Musk, and others—but, as MS NOW and other outlets have emphasized, there is currently no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by any of the principals named.
Yet the release has hardly quelled controversy. Survivors and their allies have lambasted the Justice Department for what they describe as “sloppy redactions,” with dozens of known or suspected survivors’ names left visible. The DOJ has since pledged to address these privacy lapses, but the blowback was immediate and intense. For many, the question isn’t just what’s in the files—it’s what might have been missed, overlooked, or concealed.
Monday’s access for lawmakers is more than a bureaucratic milestone; it’s a response to a groundswell of public and political pressure. The House Judiciary Committee, in particular, has been vocal about the need for unfiltered access, especially with Attorney General Pam Bondi set to testify before the panel next Wednesday. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the committee’s ranking member, recently pressed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche for exactly this kind of transparency in a formal letter.
Adding to the day’s significance, Ghislaine Maxwell—Epstein’s longtime associate and convicted co-conspirator—will make her first-ever congressional appearance, albeit virtually, before the House Oversight Committee. Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence in Bryan, Texas, for her role in Epstein’s child sex trafficking operation, is expected to invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and decline to answer questions. Her attorney, David Oscar Markus, confirmed to MS NOW that she will exercise her right to remain silent.
This closed-door deposition, scheduled for Monday morning, marks a new level of scrutiny for Maxwell, whose conviction in 2021 capped years of speculation and legal wrangling. The federal government found her guilty of sex trafficking and operating a grooming system for underage girls, a verdict that reverberated far beyond the courtroom. Yet, as officials continue to stress, the mere presence of a name in the Epstein files does not imply guilt or criminal activity—a reminder that the investigation’s reach is wide, but its conclusions must be grounded in evidence, not innuendo.
The timing of Maxwell’s testimony is no coincidence. It coincides with the ongoing release of millions of pages of federal records under the Transparency Act, a sweeping disclosure effort that has investigators, journalists, and survivors’ advocates combing through emails, photos, and other materials tied to Epstein, Maxwell, and their sprawling network. Among the newly released records are thousands of heavily redacted videos that appear to show young girls spending time with Epstein, who died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial.
One document drawing particular attention is a 2015 email from Epstein to Maxwell, which contains a drafted defense statement related to litigation by victim Virginia Giuffre. In the draft, Maxwell denies any wrongdoing and addresses the now-infamous photo of Giuffre with Prince Andrew. "It was in London when (redacted but apparently Giuffre) met a number of friends of mine, including Prince Andrew," the draft reads. "A photograph was taken as I imagine she wanted to show it to friends and family." According to WPBF 25 News, this acknowledgment is significant, as it is one of the few instances where Maxwell directly references the authenticity of the photo, a subject of intense public debate for years.
The congressional investigation is poised to widen even further in the coming weeks. The House Oversight Committee has scheduled depositions for other high-profile figures: billionaire retail executive Les Wexner is expected to appear for a closed-door deposition on February 18 in Washington, D.C., while former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are slated for transcribed, filmed depositions on February 27 and February 26, respectively. Wexner, in particular, has long faced questions about his close relationship with Epstein, including why he granted Epstein extraordinary access to his finances and personal assets.
The fallout from the latest document dump has already claimed casualties in the public sphere. According to MS NOW, a top lawyer and an art world executive resigned from their positions this week after emails with Epstein were revealed in the newly released files. The reverberations are likely to continue as more names and connections come to light.
It’s important to remember, as multiple officials and reports have emphasized, that the inclusion of any individual’s name in the files does not constitute proof of guilt, criminal involvement, or wrongdoing. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise by a court of law. This legal presumption remains a central tenet as the investigation moves forward—and as the public’s appetite for answers shows no sign of waning.
With the Justice Department’s reading room now open to Congress and the House Oversight Committee poised to question some of the most prominent figures linked to the Epstein case, the coming weeks promise to shed more light on one of the most notorious criminal investigations in recent memory. The search for truth continues, fraught with complexity, controversy, and the ever-present challenge of separating fact from speculation.
As lawmakers, survivors, and the public await the next revelations, the Epstein files remain a stark reminder of the enduring need for transparency, accountability, and justice—no matter how long it takes or how high the stakes may be.