New Delhi: The US Justice Department on Monday revealed more un-redacted names in the Jeffrey Epstein files. The move came after lawmakers who reviewed the unredacted versions of the files pressured release of more names. On Tuesday in a floor speech, Ro Khanna, a Democratic representative revealed the identities of six men after seeing unredacted files.
The new revelations
The six men whose names were revealed in connection with the Epstein files are Leslie ‘Les’ Wexner, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Nicola Caputo, Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze and Leonic Leonov. While the names were announced, no implication of criminal charge was attached or any evidence related to it.
“If we found six men that they were hiding in two hours, imagine how many men they are covering up for in those 3m files,” Khanna did say in his floor speech. Khanna further added that when he and Massie identified the redactions for justice department officials, “they acknowledged their mistake” and revealed the identities. Majority of the Epstein files, as Khanna also attested, remain redacted.
Who are they?
Perhaps the most significant name, known to be associated with Jeffery Epstein in earlier reports as well, was Leslie ‘Les’ Wexner.
The 88-year-old Wexner is known as a business magnate, behind such retail empires that includes Victoria’s Secret, Abercrombie & Fitch and Bath & Body Works. It is claimed that he maintained a lengthy financial relationship with Epstein who handled his investments for many years. An investigation from the New York Times in November, attributes Wexner for Epstein’s early rise in the financial and business world.
Another important name is of Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the Dubai-based businessman. He leads DP World, a multinational ports and logistics enterprise with operations spanning more than 80 countries. His association with Epstein was being recently discussed on several social media platforms. He is also the brother of Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the head of the FIA, the governing body of motorsport events, including the F1.
Other names include that of Nicola Caputo, reportedly to be an Italian politician who represented his country in the European parliament between 2014 and 2019. Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze and Leonic Leonov are also named in the new unredacted names, but it is yet not known who they are or what their connection is to Jeffery Epstein.