In a tense congressional showdown that stunned observers, Republican Congressman Thomas Massie directly confronts FBI Director Kash Patel over sealed FD-302 witness interview reports—revealing explosive allegations against at least 20 powerful figures tied to Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous trafficking network.T

Thomas Massie confronts FBI Director Kash Patel with sealed 302 reports detailing allegations against at least 20 powerful figures in Epstein’s alleged trafficking network.

In a tense January 2026 House Judiciary Committee hearing, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) directly challenged FBI Director Kash Patel over the bureau’s handling of sealed FD-302 interview reports from the Jeffrey Epstein investigations. Massie, co-sponsor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act signed by President Trump in November 2025, pressed Patel on why these critical documents—summarizing victim and witness statements—remain withheld despite the law’s mandate for near-total disclosure by December 19, 2025.

Massie highlighted statements from survivors’ attorneys indicating that a group of victims had collectively identified at least 20 powerful men accused of sexual misconduct in interviews memorialized in the 302 forms. “These names were given directly to FBI agents,” Massie stated. “Victims can have their identities redacted, but the allegations against high-profile figures cannot be buried to avoid embarrassment.” He accused the DOJ and FBI of excessive redactions and delays that violate the act’s explicit prohibition on withholding records for reputational or political reasons.

Patel maintained that the bureau is complying “lawfully,” citing ongoing reviews of over two million documents and priorities for victim privacy. However, he acknowledged not personally reviewing all 302s, deferring to teams of agents. Critics, including Massie, view this as evasion, especially after the DOJ admitted releasing less than 1% of files—just 12,285 documents totaling 125,000 pages—as of early January.

The confrontation underscores bipartisan frustration with the Trump administration’s slow pace, echoing Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous calls in Nobody’s Girl for unredacted truth. Giuffre’s memoir detailed systemic protection of elites; now, stalled 302 releases fuel suspicions that patterns of impunity persist.

Massie warned that without immediate action—potentially via a court-appointed special master—the public will lose trust further. As midterms approach, his standoff with Patel symbolizes a rare Republican pushback against perceived cover-ups, demanding the full exposure of Epstein’s network that survivors like Giuffre fought for until the end.