Epstein Files Names List: What the Documents Actually Show

Searches for "Epstein list," "Epstein files names," and "Epstein documents released" spike every time new records emerge. The public interest is understandable: these documents relate to one of the most consequential sex trafficking cases in modern history. But the gap between what the documents actually contain and what social media claims they show is vast and legally significant.

This article explains what the documents are, how they were released, what categories of names appear, what being "named" actually means, and how to access the records yourself. For broader coverage of the scandal and its political dimensions, see our Epstein Files Scandal tracker.

The Key Legal Cases Behind the Documents

The documents commonly called "the Epstein files" come from several distinct legal proceedings:

Giuffre v. Maxwell (Case No. 1:15-cv-07433, S.D.N.Y.)

The civil defamation lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell in 2015. Giuffre alleged Maxwell defamed her by publicly calling her trafficking allegations "obvious lies." This case generated extensive sealed discovery -- depositions, exhibits, and correspondence -- that became the primary source of documents released in January 2024. The case was settled in 2017, but the sealed records remained subject to litigation for years. The unsealing was driven by a media coalition led by the Miami Herald, whose investigative reporter Julie K. Brown published a three-part series in November 2018 identifying more than 80 alleged victims.

United States v. Maxwell (Case No. 1:20-cr-00330, S.D.N.Y.)

The federal criminal case against Ghislaine Maxwell. She was convicted on December 29, 2021 on five counts including sex trafficking of a minor and sentenced to 20 years on June 28, 2022. The Second Circuit upheld her convictions on September 17, 2024, and the Supreme Court declined to hear her appeal on October 6, 2024.

The 2008 Non-Prosecution Agreement

In 2007, U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta entered into a non-prosecution agreement with Epstein allowing him to plead guilty to two state charges in Florida and serve 13 months in county jail with work-release privileges. Victims were not notified of the deal, which a federal judge later ruled violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act. The DOJ's Office of Professional Responsibility concluded Acosta exercised "poor judgment." He resigned as Secretary of Labor in July 2019.

Timeline of Document Releases

Categories of Names in the Documents

Names appearing in the Epstein files fall into distinct categories with very different legal implications. Understanding these categories is essential to interpreting the documents accurately.

Victims and Survivors

Individuals trafficked, abused, or otherwise victimized by Epstein and his associates. Many victim names are redacted for privacy, though the January 2026 DOJ release drew criticism for inconsistent redaction practices.

Witnesses

People who provided testimony in depositions: household staff, pilots, personal assistants, and others with knowledge of Epstein's activities. Being a witness does not indicate involvement in wrongdoing.

Named Associates

Individuals appearing in Epstein's personal contacts book, on flight manifests for his aircraft (primarily the Boeing 727-31 "Lolita Express," tail number N908JE), or in correspondence. Flight logs span February 1997 through May 2006 and document approximately 3,000 individual flights. Epstein's contact book was a personal directory; its existence became public after a former employee stole a copy.

People Named in Allegations

Individuals specifically accused of wrongdoing in sworn depositions or victim testimony. This is a much smaller subset than the total names in the documents.

People Mentioned in Passing

Many prominent names appear tangentially -- referenced in emails, mentioned in deposition context, or noted in scheduling documents without any connection to alleged criminal conduct.

What Being "Named" Actually Means -- and What It Does Not

This is the most critical distinction in any discussion of the Epstein files:

• Presence in a document does not equal guilt. Names in flight logs, contact books, or emails establish only association, not criminal conduct.
• Flight logs establish presence, not purpose. Being on a flight manifest shows someone flew on Epstein's aircraft. It does not indicate what occurred during or after the flight.
• Depositions contain allegations, not verdicts. Sworn testimony may include serious claims, but these are untested in cross-examination and do not constitute findings of fact.
• The legal standard for prosecution requires corroboration, context, and prosecutorial assessment. The gap between lay understanding of "involvement" and the strict legal definitions of criminal liability is a major source of public confusion.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act

On November 18, 2025, the House passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405) by a vote of 427-1. The Senate passed it by unanimous consent the next day, and President Trump signed it into law as Public Law 119-38.

The Act required the Attorney General to make publicly available all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to Epstein within 30 days in searchable and downloadable format. The DOJ created the "Epstein Library" at justice.gov/epstein for public access.

Members of Congress were permitted to review unredacted files in secure DOJ reading rooms beginning February 2026, though they could not bring electronic devices -- only handwritten notes. Bipartisan criticism has focused on inconsistent redactions and the roughly 2.5 million pages still withheld.

Ongoing Investigations as of February 2026

International

• United Kingdom: Scotland Yard launched a criminal investigation into alleged misconduct in public office after emails showed former minister Peter Mandelson passed confidential Whitehall material to Epstein. Mandelson was arrested February 23, 2026. Prince Andrew was arrested February 19, 2026 and released on bail.
• France: Paris prosecutors opened two new inquiries -- one into alleged human trafficking and another into financial wrongdoing linked to Epstein. Financial crimes prosecutors are separately investigating Jack Lang and his daughter Caroline Lang.
• Norway: Former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland has been charged with aggravated corruption based on ties revealed in the files.

United States

As of late February 2026, no new federal prosecutions in the United States have been announced stemming from the file releases, despite the scale of the disclosures. Congressional lawmakers including Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie have criticized the DOJ for incomplete compliance with the Transparency Act. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has stated that flawed disclosures "undermine accountability for grave crimes."

How to Access the Actual Court Documents

• DOJ Epstein Library (justice.gov/epstein): Free, searchable portal with 3.5+ million pages.
• PACER (pacer.uscourts.gov): Official federal court records. Search case numbers 1:15-cv-07433 (Giuffre v. Maxwell) or 1:20-cr-00330 (United States v. Maxwell). Requires account; $0.10/page with annual cap.
• CourtListener (courtlistener.com): Free mirror of PACER data with full docket access.
• DocumentCloud: Hosts large, text-searchable sets of unsealed documents for research without PACER fees.

Common Misconceptions

1. "The Epstein list" is a single document. It is not. The term is shorthand for names spread across flight logs, contact books, deposition transcripts, emails, and FBI files.
2. Everyone named is a sex offender. Most named individuals are witnesses, victims, social acquaintances, employees, or people mentioned incidentally.
3. The January 2024 release contained shocking new revelations. Most of the content had been previously reported through earlier partial releases and investigative journalism.
4. All documents have been released. Roughly 2.5 million pages remain withheld from the DOJ corpus.
5. The files prove specific people committed crimes. Documents are evidence sources and investigative leads, not verdicts. They require corroboration, context, and prosecutorial assessment before they can support criminal charges.