Rep. Ted Lieu, Epstein Files, and the Fight to Hold DOJ Accountable: Everything Verified

A California congressman says Trump’s name appears in the Epstein files thousands of times — alongside “highly disturbing allegations.” The DOJ says some files are missing. NPR confirmed the withholding. The White House says Trump was exonerated. Here is every verified fact, every disputed claim, and every open question.

Rep. Ted Lieu says the Epstein files contain “highly disturbing allegations” about Trump. NPR confirmed the DOJ withheld key documents. Here’s every verified fact.

 

⚠ Editorial Standards Notice This article covers serious political allegations involving a sitting U.S. president. Every claim is sourced and attributed. Allegations are labeled as allegations. Disputed claims are noted as disputed. No claim in this article is presented as legally established fact unless so stated. Trump has not been charged with any crime. All investigations are ongoing.

1. Who Is Rep. Ted Lieu? A Brief Background

Ted Lieu is a Democratic U.S. Representative from California’s 36th congressional district (Los Angeles County). He serves as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, making him one of the highest-ranking Democrats in the House.

Before Congress, he served in the California State Assembly and State Senate. He is also a retired U.S. Air Force JAG officer and a former prosecutor — credentials he has used repeatedly in his statements about what constitutes criminal liability under federal sex trafficking law.

In the 119th Congress, Lieu has emerged as one of the most outspoken Democratic voices demanding DOJ accountability on the Epstein files.

2. What Lieu Said: The Full, Accurate Account

Quick Answer At a February 3–4, 2026 press conference, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) said Trump is in the Epstein files “thousands and thousands of times” and that the documents contain “highly disturbing allegations” of Trump raping and threatening to kill children. He was referencing FBI records and urging the press and DOJ to investigate. He did not state these allegations were proven facts.

Here is the most precise account of what Lieu actually said, in sequence:

February 3–4, 2026 — Press Conference

“Why are Republicans so interested in Bill and Hillary Clinton? It’s because they’re trying to distract from the fact that Donald Trump is in the Epstein files thousands and thousands of times.”

“In those files, there’s highly disturbing allegations of Donald Trump raping children, of Donald Trump threatening to kill children.”

He then urged reporters to look into those allegations and review the documents themselves. He did not say the allegations were proven or that Epstein files show Trump committing those acts. He described them as allegations within FBI records.

February 11, 2026 — House Judiciary Committee Hearing

Lieu played video footage of Trump at an Epstein party and challenged AG Bondi directly. He displayed a document from the released files containing a limo driver’s unverified account. He told Bondi: “I believe you just lied under oath.”

February 13, 2026 — Post on X

Lieu posted an FBI record from the DOJ release showing that a witness had contacted the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center. The witness said a girl later found dead had told him Trump and Epstein raped her. Lieu noted that DOJ never interviewed that witness and demanded Bondi explain why.

February 25, 2026 — Special Counsel Letter

Lieu and Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) sent a formal letter to DAG Todd Blanche calling for a special counsel to investigate AG Bondi for alleged perjury. Their letter cites specific documents in the released files that, they argue, contradict Bondi’s sworn statement that “there is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime.”

3. What the Epstein Files Actually Contain About Trump

The DOJ has publicly released over 3 million documents. Within those documents, the following items have been specifically identified by lawmakers and journalists:

The DOJ Internal PowerPoint Slide Deck

A 21-page internal FBI slideshow summarizing prominent names in the Epstein and Maxwell investigation included two witness accounts referencing Trump. The Lieu–Goldman letter to DAG Blanche quotes them directly. One account describes a woman who, as a 13- to 15-year-old, had her head forced down by Trump, bit him, and was punched and kicked out. Another describes Epstein introducing Trump to a 14-year-old girl saying “this is a good one, huh” and Trump responding affirmatively. These accounts are unverified allegations recorded by the FBI, not findings of guilt.

The FBI NTOC Tip Involving a Deceased Girl

An FBI National Threat Operations Center record shows that a man identifying himself as a limo driver contacted the FBI. He reported that a girl had told him Trump and Epstein raped her. He said the girl was later found dead with a gunshot wound ruled a suicide. FBI records show the tip was forwarded to the Washington field office for follow-up. NPR found that DOJ never released the resulting interview.

The Mar-a-Lago 2009 Email

An email chain between Epstein and Maxwell in 2009 includes a paraphrase of a conversation with Trump’s lawyers. According to Raskin, the email shows Trump stated ‘Epstein was not a member of Mar-a-Lago but was a guest’ and that “we never asked him to leave.” This contradicts Trump’s repeated public claim that he personally kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago.

A Mother’s FBI Interview

An interview with a woman’s mother in the released files includes the mother’s recollection that she had heard “a prince and DONALD TRUMP visited EPSTEIN’s house,” which made her think “that if they are there then how could EPSTEIN be a criminal.” This interview was removed from the public DOJ database and, at the time of NPR’s report, had not been restored.

Important Context

The FBI internally marked most of the NTOC-sourced allegations as unverifiable or not credible. The documents are raw investigative records — they are not findings of fact, evidence presented at trial, or official determinations of guilt or innocence. Trump has not been charged with any crime related to Epstein.

4. The Lieu–Bondi Confrontation: February 11 Hearing

The February 11, 2026 House Judiciary Committee hearing on Epstein file transparency became one of the most watched congressional exchanges of the year.

Lieu played a video of a younger Trump socializing with Epstein at a party. He then asked Bondi whether underage girls may have been present. Bondi accused Democrats of trying to “deflect from all the great things Donald Trump has done.”

“There is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime.” — AG Pam Bondi, under oath, February 11, 2026

“I believe you just lied under oath.” — Rep. Ted Lieu, in response

Bondi was visibly agitated during the exchange, shouting back at Lieu. She called the line of questioning “so ridiculous.” The hearing drew extensive media coverage and became a focal point for the controversy over whether the DOJ was adequately investigating Trump’s ties to Epstein.

Lieu then displayed an FBI document from the released files containing the limo driver’s account. He cited it as an example of evidence that contradicts Bondi’s sworn claim that no evidence exists.

5. The DOJ’s Official Position

The Department of Justice has pushed back on all characterizations of a cover-up. Its positions, stated on the record, are:

• In a Feb. 14 letter to Congress, AG Bondi and DAG Blanche stated no records were withheld or redacted “on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.”
• The DOJ Rapid Response X account called Lieu’s claims “baseless” on February 18.
• In a Feb. 25 letter to Senate and House Judiciary chairs, Bondi stated “ALL responsive documents have been produced” consistent with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, unless they are duplicates, privileged, or part of an ongoing investigation.
• When NPR asked why specific documents were removed, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said Trump “has been totally exonerated on anything relating to Epstein.”
• The DOJ said some files were temporarily removed for victim redaction corrections and would be restored.

The Problem with the DOJ’s Position

NPR’s independent investigation found that documents were not simply “temporarily removed for corrections.” At the time of reporting, some had never been in the database at all. Serial number analysis confirmed gaps. The DOJ has not addressed those specific findings publicly in detail.

6. NPR’s Investigation: Files Were Withheld

The most significant piece of independent reporting to date came from NPR, published on February 24, 2026.

What NPR Found

• The DOJ withheld more than 50 pages of FBI interview records related to a woman who said she was sexually abused by Trump when she was approximately 13 years old.
• Separate FBI interviews with other people also reference this woman’s account of meeting Trump as a minor while being abused by Epstein.
• One interview with the woman’s mother — referencing both “a prince and Donald Trump” visiting Epstein’s house — was removed from the public database and had not been restored at time of publication.
• An independent journalist, Roger Sollenberger, cross-referenced Bates stamp numbers and discovered gaps in the public release consistent with withheld documents.
• The FBI internally circulated Epstein-related allegations mentioning Trump in July–August 2025, with agents marking most as “unverifiable or not credible.” However, one tip was specifically forwarded to the Washington field office for a follow-up interview.

NPR correspondent Julie K. Brown, who broke the original Epstein story for the Miami Herald in 2018, told PBS NewsHour: “The DOJ was ordered to release information to the public to be transparent about Epstein and Maxwell’s criminal enterprise network. Instead, they released the names of courageous victims who have fought hard for decades to remain anonymous. Whether the disclosures were inadvertent or not — they had one job to do here and they didn’t do it.”

7. What Jamie Raskin and Other Lawmakers Found

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and other lawmakers were granted access to unredacted Epstein files at DOJ headquarters beginning in early February 2026. Their findings added significant context.

Raskin’s Findings (February 10, 2026)

• Trump’s name appears in the unredacted files “more than a million times” — a figure Raskin stated after searching the database. If accurate, it would mean the public release redacted more than 96% of Trump mentions.
• A 2009 Epstein-Maxwell email shows a paraphrased Trump quote saying Epstein was never kicked out of Mar-a-Lago — contradicting Trump’s long-standing public claim.
• Raskin described the DOJ’s file review system as “confusing, unreliable, and clunky,” and called the process itself “part of the coverup.”
• “The 3 million documents that the administration has not publicly released are the ones I’d like to see,” Raskin said. The administration claims those are duplicates.

Ro Khanna’s Findings

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) visited the DOJ together and found that 70–80% of the files remained redacted. They identified six names the DOJ had hidden without justification. When they pointed this out, the DOJ acknowledged the error and revealed the names: Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze, Leonic Leonov, Nicola Caputo, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem (CEO of Dubai Ports World), and billionaire Leslie Wexner — whom the FBI labeled a “co-conspirator.”

8. The Fact-Check: What Lieu Did NOT Say

This section matters for responsible reporting. Multiple fact-checking outlets investigated viral social media claims about Lieu’s statements.

Fact-Check Result A viral social media post by @allenanalysis on X (archived) falsely stated that Lieu said the “full, unreleased Epstein files PROVE Donald Trump raping children.” That is NOT what Lieu said. Multiple fact-checkers — including Yahoo News — confirmed Lieu was describing allegations in FBI records and urging investigation. He explicitly called them allegations. He did not claim they were proven.

The Three Key Distinctions

• Lieu said the files contain “highly disturbing allegations” — he did not say they contain proof.
• Lieu said the files were released, not unreleased — he was referencing documents in the public DOJ database.
• Lieu urged investigation of the allegations — he did not declare guilt.

Mischaracterizations of Lieu’s remarks spread widely on social media in mid-February. The gap between what he actually said and how it was described by viral posts illustrates why sourcing and precision matter in covering this story.

9. Trump’s Response and the White House Position

President Trump has denied any wrongdoing related to Jeffrey Epstein across multiple statements.

• Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandates DOJ release of Epstein-related documents.
• Trump called the arrest of Prince Andrew (Mountbatten-Windsor) “a shame” for Britain, but insisted he himself had been cleared.
• Trump told reporters he has been “totally exonerated” on anything relating to Epstein.
• White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told NPR that “President Trump has done more for Epstein’s victims than anyone before him.”
• When CNN asked whether similar arrests to Andrew’s might occur in the U.S., Trump demurred and reiterated he had been cleared.

Trump has never been charged with any crime related to Epstein. No U.S. court has found him liable for abuse of a minor in connection with the Epstein investigation.

10. The Special Counsel Demand: Lieu and Goldman

On February 25, 2026, Reps. Lieu and Goldman sent a formal letter to DAG Todd Blanche demanding the appointment of a special counsel to investigate AG Bondi. Their grounds: they allege Bondi committed perjury when she told the House Judiciary Committee that “there is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime.”

The Evidence They Cite

Their letter to Blanche identifies specific DOJ-released documents they argue contradict Bondi’s sworn testimony:

• The 21-page DOJ internal PowerPoint with two witness accounts alleging Trump committed sexual abuse of minors
• FBI records of the limo driver’s account — a tip that was sent for follow-up but whose resulting interview was never publicly released
• The 2009 Epstein-Maxwell email contradicting Trump’s Mar-a-Lago claim
• NPR’s finding that 50+ pages of FBI interview records related to a minor abuse accuser were withheld

They also accuse Bondi of “creepily spying” on lawmakers’ searches in the DOJ Epstein file database, and call for Bondi’s resignation.

The DOJ has not responded substantively to the special counsel demand. No special counsel has been appointed.

11. Claims vs. Official Responses: A Comparison Table

CLAIM (Source)	OFFICIAL RESPONSE	VERIFICATION STATUS
Trump is mentioned in Epstein files “thousands and thousands of times” (Lieu, Feb. 4)	DOJ has not confirmed or denied a specific count. Raskin separately alleged Trump’s name appears “more than a million times” in unredacted files.	Disputed / Unverified count
The files contain “highly disturbing allegations” of Trump raping and threatening to kill children (Lieu, Feb. 4)	DOJ says many entries from its NTOC tip line are “unverifiable or not credible.” However, one specific tip was forwarded to Washington field office for follow-up, per NPR.	Allegations confirmed in files; credibility disputed
AG Bondi committed perjury when she said “there is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime” (Lieu & Goldman, Feb. 25)	Bondi denies perjury. DOJ says its Feb. 14 letter to Congress confirmed no files were withheld based on political sensitivity.	Under legal dispute; no charges filed
DOJ withheld 50+ pages of FBI interview related to woman who accused Trump of sexual abuse as a minor (NPR, Feb. 24)	DOJ says some files were “temporarily pulled” for victim redactions and will be restored. Bondi Feb. 25 letter claims all required files have been released.	NPR confirmed withholding; DOJ disputes characterization
Trump “never asked” Epstein to leave Mar-a-Lago — contradicted by 2009 Epstein-Maxwell email in released files (Raskin, Feb. 10)	White House did not directly address this specific email. Trump’s team says he has been “totally exonerated.”	Email confirmed in files; White House disputed context
DOJ tracked which files members of Congress read — Lieu accuses Bondi of “creepily spying” (Feb. 13)	DOJ did not deny having visibility into lawmakers’ searches. No formal denial of the surveillance allegation issued.	Not officially denied

Sources: NPR, CNN, PBS, The Hill, Axios, lieu.house.gov, Fox News, Yahoo News Fact Check. Updated Feb. 26, 2026.

12. Full Chronology of Key Events

DATE	DEVELOPMENT	SOURCE
Jan. 30, 2026	DOJ releases first tranche of Epstein files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act signed by Trump. Over 3 million documents published.	DOJ / NPR
Feb. 3–4, 2026	Rep. Ted Lieu holds press conference, says Trump is in the Epstein files “thousands and thousands of times” and the documents contain “highly disturbing allegations” of Trump raping and threatening to kill children. He calls on press to investigate.	C-SPAN / Yahoo News
Feb. 10, 2026	Rep. Jamie Raskin and others view unredacted files at DOJ HQ. Raskin says Trump’s name appears “more than a million times.” Rep. Ro Khanna forces DOJ to publicly reveal names of six previously redacted powerful men.	Axios / New Republic
Feb. 11, 2026	Explosive Lieu–Bondi exchange at House Judiciary Committee hearing. Lieu plays video of Trump at Epstein party and challenges Bondi. Bondi states “there is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime.” Lieu: “I believe you just lied under oath.”	CNN / C-SPAN
Feb. 13, 2026	Lieu posts to X, flagging FBI record of a limo driver’s account of a girl who told him Trump and Epstein raped her — later found dead — and that the DOJ never interviewed the witness.	Raw Story / lieu.house.gov
Feb. 14, 2026	AG Bondi and DAG Blanche send letter to Congress denying any files were withheld on the basis of “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.”	NPR / Politico
Feb. 18, 2026	DOJ Rapid Response X account calls Lieu’s claims “baseless.” Viral social-media posts mischaracterize Lieu’s remarks, falsely stating he said “unreleased files PROVE Trump raping children.” Multiple fact-checkers correct the record.	Yahoo News Fact Check
Feb. 24, 2026	NPR publishes investigation: DOJ withheld and removed Epstein files related to allegations Trump sexually abused a minor, including 50+ pages of FBI interviews. Democrats on House Oversight call it a potential crime.	NPR / PBS / Democracy Now
Feb. 25, 2026	White House denies wrongdoing. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson tells NPR Trump “has been totally exonerated on anything relating to Epstein.”	NPR
Feb. 25, 2026	AG Bondi sends letter to Senate and House Judiciary chairs claiming “all” Epstein files have been released consistent with the law. Democrats dispute this.	Fox News / LiveNOW
Feb. 25, 2026	Reps. Lieu and Goldman send letter to DAG Blanche calling for a special counsel to investigate AG Bondi for alleged perjury.	lieu.house.gov / The Hill

Sources: C-SPAN, CNN, NPR, lieu.house.gov, Axios, Raw Story, LiveNOW from Fox, PBS NewsHour. Updated Feb. 26, 2026.

13. The Broader Context: Epstein Files Transparency Act

The political controversy cannot be understood without understanding the law at its center.

What the Epstein Files Transparency Act Requires

• DOJ must release all unclassified documents and investigative materials related to Epstein and Maxwell
• Must include immunity deals and internal communications
• The only lawful redactions: documents that identify victims, or that would constitute “a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy”
• Redactions based on “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity” are explicitly prohibited
• The law was passed by Congress and signed by President Trump

Why the Law Is Central to the Controversy

If NPR’s finding is accurate — that files were withheld specifically because they contain allegations against Trump — that would constitute a violation of a law that Trump himself signed. Rep. Ro Khanna called it “a blatant violation” of federal law. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have opened a formal investigation.

14. Frequently Asked Questions

What did Rep. Ted Lieu say about Trump and the Epstein files?

At a February 3–4, 2026 press conference, Lieu said Trump is in the Epstein files “thousands and thousands of times” and that the documents contain “highly disturbing allegations” of Trump raping and threatening to kill children. He was describing FBI records and urging reporters and the DOJ to investigate. He explicitly called them allegations, not proven facts.

Did Ted Lieu say the Epstein files prove Trump raped children?

No. This is a documented mischaracterization. Multiple fact-checkers confirmed Lieu described these as allegations in FBI records and called for investigation. He did not claim they were proven. A viral social media post falsely described his remarks as a claim about proof in unreleased files.

Has Trump been charged with any crime related to Epstein?

No. President Trump has never been charged with any Epstein-related crime. He denies all wrongdoing and says he has been “totally exonerated.”

Did the DOJ withhold Epstein files related to Trump?

NPR’s February 24, 2026 investigation found that the DOJ withheld or removed Epstein files related to allegations that Trump sexually abused a minor, including 50+ pages of FBI interview records. The DOJ denies deliberate withholding on political grounds. The files’ absence was confirmed via serial number analysis by an independent journalist.

What is the Epstein Files Transparency Act?

A law passed by Congress and signed by Trump requiring the DOJ to release all unclassified Epstein-related documents. It explicitly prohibits withholding files based on embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity. The only permitted redactions are victim-identifying information and materials posing unwarranted privacy invasions.

What did AG Pam Bondi say under oath?

At a February 11, 2026 House Judiciary Committee hearing, AG Bondi stated: “There is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime.” Lieu and Goldman allege this contradicts documents in the released files and constitute perjury. Bondi denies the perjury allegation and has not retracted her statement.

What is the special counsel demand?

On February 25, 2026, Reps. Lieu and Goldman sent a letter to DAG Todd Blanche requesting a special counsel to investigate AG Bondi for alleged perjury. The DOJ has not appointed a special counsel in response to their demand.

15. Key Takeaways

Here is what the verified record shows as of February 26, 2026:

• Lieu’s statements were accurately described as allegations — viral mischaracterizations of his remarks were debunked by multiple fact-checkers.
• The Epstein files do contain FBI records with allegations against Trump — including accounts from the DOJ’s own internal slideshow and unverified NTOC tip-line entries. These are not findings of guilt.
• NPR independently confirmed that the DOJ withheld or removed some files specifically tied to a minor abuse accuser who named Trump.
• AG Bondi’s sworn statement that there is “no evidence” of Trump committing a crime is being formally challenged, with specific documents cited as contradictions.
• The DOJ denies deliberate political suppression. The White House says Trump was exonerated.
• A 2009 Epstein-Maxwell email appears to contradict Trump’s long-standing claim that he personally kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago.
• No U.S. criminal charges have been filed against Trump in connection with Epstein. No special counsel has been appointed.
• This story is rapidly developing. Readers should verify new developments against primary sources.

Where to Find Primary Sources Epstein files public database: justice.gov/epstein-files Rep. Lieu’s official press releases: lieu.house.gov NPR’s full investigation: npr.org (search ‘Epstein files Trump withheld’) House Oversight Committee: oversight.house.gov C-SPAN hearing footage: c-span.org

Sources

• NPR: “DOJ removed, withheld Epstein files related to accusations about Trump” — npr.org (Feb. 24, 2026)
• NPR: “Democrats want answers from DOJ about missing Trump Epstein files” — npr.org (Feb. 25, 2026)
• CNN: “’Shame on you!’: Lieu and Bondi spar over Trump and Epstein files” — cnn.com (Feb. 11, 2026)
• The Hill: “Democrats demand special counsel investigation of Bondi, accusing her of perjury” — thehill.com (Feb. 25, 2026)
• Axios: “Trump is in the unredacted Epstein files ‘more than a million times,’ Raskin alleges” — axios.com (Feb. 10, 2026)
• PBS NewsHour: Interview with Julie K. Brown on DOJ withholding — pbs.org (Feb. 24, 2026)
• C-SPAN: “Rep. Ted Lieu Claims President Trump Is Accused of Raping Children in the Epstein Files” — c-span.org
• house.gov: Official press release, Lieu and Goldman letter to DAG Blanche — Feb. 25, 2026
• Yahoo News Fact Check: “Fact Check: Rep. Ted Lieu Did NOT Say Unreleased Epstein Files Show Donald Trump Raping Children” — Feb. 18, 2026
• LiveNOW from Fox: “Missing Epstein files: Trump sexual assault claims withheld, lawmakers say” — livenowfox.com (Feb. 25, 2026)
• Raw Story: “’Later found dead’: Dem lawmaker flags explosive Trump allegation in Epstein files” — rawstory.com (Feb. 13, 2026)
• Democracy Now: “NPR: DOJ Fails to Release Epstein Files Related to Allegations That Trump Sexually Abused a Minor” — Feb. 24, 2026
• New Republic: “Raskin: Trump Is in Unredacted Epstein Files More Than a Million Times” — newrepublic.com (Feb. 10, 2026)

This is a rapidly developing story. All information was verified at time of publication on February 26, 2026. New developments should be checked against primary sources.