Recent releases of Jeffrey Epstein files have intensified political fallout, with Ghislaine Maxwell appealing for clemency during a House deposition and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirming a 2012 visit to Epstein's island. Lawmakers reviewed unredacted documents, highlighting excessive redactions and victim privacy breaches. In New Hampshire, ties to inventor Dean Kamen, linked to Epstein, have drawn attacks on candidates from the Shaheen and Sununu families.
On February 9, 2026, Ghislaine Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, declined to answer questions during a closed-door deposition with the House Oversight Committee, invoking her Fifth Amendment rights. Her attorney, David Oscar Markus, stated that Maxwell is "prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump," adding that both Trump and former President Bill Clinton "are innocent of any wrongdoing." Democrats, including Rep. Melanie Stansbury, described this as a "brazen effort" to end her sentence, while Republicans like Rep. Anna Paulina Luna rejected clemency, writing on social media, "NO CLEMENCY. You comply or face punishment."
Maxwell was transferred to a low-security prison camp in Texas last summer after interviews with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., who viewed unredacted files on February 9, criticized unnecessary redactions, noting instances where non-victims, including women involved in trafficking, were obscured, along with entire pages of text. He said the Department of Justice's actions violated "the spirit of the law" and transparency needs. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., spent hours reviewing the over 3 million pages, estimating it would take months to fully examine them. The DOJ inadvertently released nude photos of victims, drawing complaints from attorney Jennifer Freeman, who called it "incompetent, intimidating and intentional."
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., identified names of six men "likely incriminated" and urged accountability. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., stated, "it wasn't just Epstein and Maxwell" involved in abusing underage girls.
Separately, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed during a Senate hearing on February 10 that he visited Epstein's Little Saint James island in late 2012 for lunch with his wife, four children, nannies, and another family, despite prior claims of cutting contact after a 2005 encounter. Lutnick said he witnessed nothing inappropriate and had "very limited interactions" over 14 years. Democrats like Rep. Robert Garcia accused him of lying and called for resignation; Rep. Massie echoed the demand. The White House expressed confidence in Lutnick.
In New Hampshire, files revealed inventor Dean Kamen's contacts with Epstein post-2008 guilty plea, including a 2013 island visit. Kamen, who donated over $7,000 each to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, John E. Sununu, and Kelly Ayotte, has ties to their families. Stefany Shaheen, daughter of the senator, worked at Kamen's ARMI until recently and faces primary attacks. John E. Sununu, seeking Senate return, is linked via a 1990s role at Kamen's firm and a 2010 Epstein email mentioning "john sununu, has good stories." Both campaigns dismissed criticisms as political attacks, supporting investigations into Kamen.
