Representative Lauren Boebert said she was alarmed by what she claims she saw in unredacted Department of Justice documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, joining other lawmakers who have criticized redactions in previously released material.
In a post on X on Wednesday, the Colorado Republican wrote that the files contained “terrifying language,” including references she described as involving torture and “consumption,” as well as mentions of a place called “The Cannibal.” She also alleged that women around Epstein were “deeply involved in trafficking children,” calling those involved “sick” people.
The Justice Department has not said the documents substantiate claims of cannibalism or ritualistic abuse. Mentions of “The Cannibal,” according to multiple fact-checks, refer to an actual restaurant.
Why It Matters
The disclosures are part of a broader release of Epstein-related evidence. Since being compelled to do so in December, the DOJ has released about three million pages out of roughly six million pages it holds connected to the Epstein investigation. The appearance of prominent officials’ names in recent document batches has triggered political fallout and investigations in Norway and the United Kingdom.
In the U.S., several members of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet are facing renewed scrutiny and calls to resign amid conflicting accounts about any ties to Epstein. The Justice Department and Attorney General Pam Bondi have also come under criticism for how the document releases have been handled.
Being named in the files does not itself indicate criminal wrongdoing. Still, the releases have renewed demands for accountability for anyone who knew about, enabled, or participated in Epstein’s alleged trafficking network.
What To Know
On Monday, the DOJ began allowing members of Congress to review unredacted versions of materials that have been publicly released since late 2025. Lawmakers from both parties reviewed the documents under strict rules at a designated facility in Washington, D.C., then described what they said were additional details about Epstein’s criminal activity and his network.
During a House floor speech Tuesday, Representative Ro Khanna read aloud six names he said were redacted in earlier DOJ releases, describing them as “wealthy, powerful men.” He included Les Wexner, the former head of Victoria’s Secret, whom Khanna said the FBI appeared to identify as a co-conspirator.
Representative Thomas Massie, who has worked with Khanna to push for broader disclosure, said the material included references to potential victims as young as nine. He also said he saw references to a “torture video” allegedly sent to Epstein by Emirati businessman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.
Boebert echoed those concerns in an interview with Newsmax, saying the documents suggested activity beyond the commonly discussed narrative focused on trafficking young girls. She said she saw what she called coded language involving “consumption,” along with additional references to torture.
What People Are Saying
In her Newsmax interview, Boebert alleged that women connected to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were involved in identifying or recruiting children, and she described the content she said she read as deeply disturbing.
Representative Nancy Mace wrote on X Wednesday that after her review of the files, she planned to request that the House Oversight Committee invite certain individuals to testify and, if necessary, issue subpoenas, adding, “I have questions.”
What Happens Next
Boebert said her review led her to believe Epstein relied on a broader network of “groomers and recruiters” extending beyond Maxwell, and she claimed these were primarily women. She said she wants to know why they have not been held accountable and suggested she may eventually speak on the House floor to name individuals publicly.
