Host Asks Ro Khanna If Lawmakers Can Simply Search for Names in Epstein Documents

Congressmen Seek Clarity on Epstein Files

During a recent discussion, CNN’s Casey Hunt posed an intriguing question to Democratic Representative Ro Khanna from California about whether lawmakers can simply search the Epstein files using keyboard shortcuts, like “Ctrl+F.”

In January, Congress members and officials from the Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed that less than 1% of the documents related to Jeffrey Epstein had been made public. This was surprising given the passing of the Epstein File Transparency Act, which mandates full disclosure of all pertinent records. On “The Arena,” Hunt inquired about how Congress members are handling this massive quantity of documents.

“I’m not really sure, but can I just press Control-F on my keyboard to find what I need?” Hunt asked, highlighting the challenge of locating specific information.

Khanna responded, lamenting the situation, “It’s unfortunate that Congress members have to face this. I recall my early days as a lawyer doing document reviews in a cramped cubicle. We’d sit there with our computers, looking through the documents with their Bates numbers.”

While Khanna acknowledged the professionalism of the DOJ staff, he emphasized that their access to the files is still very limited.

“To the DOJ’s credit, the staff are polite and accommodating, but they’re trying to manage three million files in just a couple of hours. During that time, we, including Republican Representative Thomas Massey from Kentucky, uncovered six names that should not have been redacted but were labeled as co-conspirators,” Khanna explained.

He continued to express concern over the extensive redactions existent in the FBI’s Epstein files. “I went to the House floor and disclosed those names, and now the Justice Department has released them. But the larger issue remains: there are still too many individuals shielded in the judiciary’s redacted files. The American public deserves to know who the powerful individuals associated with Epstein’s activities are. They have a right to know who was involved in exploiting underage girls on Epstein’s Island,” Khanna added.

Interest in these documents surged after it was announced in July that Epstein died by suicide in prison, coupled with claims that no evidence for a client list had been found. This announcement concluded the investigation into the circumstances of his death.

The FBI has been cataloging Epstein-related records in a central management system, which includes files, tapes, and images primarily originating from prolonged investigations in Florida and New York. In a memo released in July 2025, the DOJ mentioned that they had identified over 300 gigabytes of digital materials, in addition to physical evidence tied to the case.

In December, the DOJ disclosed they had uncovered over a million more records potentially connected to Epstein, cautioning that organizing and releasing them would take weeks. On December 23, nearly 30,000 documents were made public, including allegations concerning President Donald Trump, which the DOJ labeled as “false and sensational.”