Lauren Boebert seemingly had a change of heart about the Epstein case after viewing the unredacted files the Department of Justice made available to members of Congress beginning on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026.
In footage shared online, the Colorado Republican Rep. and typically stalwart MAGA ally said, “I think Ghislaine Maxwell should get more time, and she should definitely be in a harsher prison,” when asked if, after viewing the files, she felt Maxwell should get clemency. “It’s absolutely disgusting,” Boebert said.
This stands in stark contrast to an earlier statement regarding the release of the files, when Boebert said, “I don’t give a rip about Epstein. Like, there’s so many other things we need to be working on. I’ve done what I had to do for Epstein. Talk to somebody else about that. It’s no longer in my hands.”
The unredacted files on view
Lawmakers began reviewing the unredacted files on Monday, Feb. 9, after a DOJ letter notified all 535 members that the files would be accessible from that date.
According to Axios, the review took place in a reading room at the Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, D.C., with strict security protocols: no electronic devices allowed, review on DOJ computers only, and lawmakers permitted to take handwritten notes.
The DOJ granted access under bipartisan pressure and statutory requirements to increase transparency about Epstein’s ties and the government’s handling of the investigation. Lawmakers hoped that seeing the unredacted files could clarify who Epstein communicated with and whether prior redactions improperly shielded influential figures — a matter of public and legislative concern.
From victims to groomers
After viewing the files, Boebert added, “I don’t think everyone there that was talking about underage girls being trafficked are victims,” a statement that confused many, particularly in the comments section as the Boebert footage spread online.
After also viewing the files, Florida MAGA Rep. Anna Paulina Luna noted on X, adding context to Boebert’s statement.
Luna wrote in part,
It has become very apparent that Jeffrey Epstein was grooming some of his victims to become traffickers. Some of the most horrifying emails being widely circulated are not from men, but from women who claimed to be victims.”
Still, someone noted in Luna’s comments section, “Funny how the conversation keeps drifting toward discrediting victims instead of naming the financiers, enablers, and institutions that kept Epstein untouchable.”
Congress reacts
Other lawmakers weighed in after the files were made available, expressing frustration and concern about what they saw and what was still obscured. Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and California House Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) — both of whom helped pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act — said they found at least six names that were redacted without clear legal justification despite their inclusion in the unredacted review, suggesting those individuals could be “likely incriminated” by the documents.
Meanwhile, Democratic Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin characterized other redactions as “mysterious” or “unnecessary,” and he indicated he planned to press the Justice Department for explanations and hearings. Some lawmakers on both sides also voiced broader concerns about continuing redactions and the overall transparency of the process, noting that even the documents made available still left key questions unresolved.
Published: Feb 10, 2026 02:51 pm