Kibbe on Liberty – Ep 371
DOJ’s Epstein Files Release Reveals Deep Corruption
Guest: Rep. Thomas Massie | Host: Matt Kibbe
Date: February 6, 2026
Overview
In this episode, Matt Kibbe speaks with Congressman Thomas Massie about the recent Department of Justice (DOJ) data dump of Jeffrey Epstein's files. They discuss the troubling redactions, the lack of full disclosure—especially of names of alleged co-conspirators and clients—the release of victims’ personal information, and the wider ramifications of these revelations for accountability, elite corruption, and government transparency. Massie and Kibbe dissect how both political parties and entrenched interests colluded or stayed silent on the Epstein saga, the failings (or worse) of the DOJ, and why citizen journalism is crucial in unpacking the ongoing story.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. What’s in the Data Dump? What’s Missing?
[01:10–03:45]
- Massie outlines that while plenty of damning information about elite misconduct is present, the files do not include the names of Epstein’s clients and co-conspirators.
“They’ve either over-redacted the files in some cases or just completely omitted files in other cases.” – Massie [01:18]
- Shockingly, the DOJ did release victims’ identifying info:
“They have released victims’ names, they have released victims’ information... A victim who’d never gone public was getting calls from reporters at home." – Massie [01:34]
- Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna had petitioned for a special master to oversee DOJ actions.
- Crucial FBI forms (FD-302s) are missing—these would contain firsthand statements and potentially the names of perpetrators.
“The reason we know they haven’t released everything is we haven’t seen these FD302 forms that the FBI fills out every time a witness or victim gives a statement.” – Massie [02:55]
2. Elite Accountability & Political Silence
[03:45–11:19]
- The data dump has already led to resignations in the UK; the silence in US media, especially among “influencers” previously involved in calls for transparency, is palpable.
“If you watch Fox, the Epstein Files Transparency Act never happened. You have to be on social media to even know this thing happened.” – Massie [11:13]
- Massie asserts the scandal eclipses Watergate and Iran-Contra by scale, cross-administration involvement, and number of implicated elites.
"We have what seems to be almost an infinite number of people involved with Jeffrey Epstein." – Massie [11:38]
3. Epstein’s True Utility to the Powerful
[13:06–20:03]
- Kibbe references Mike Benz’s theory: Epstein as “the banker for illicit exchanges among the military industrial complex.” Massie agrees Epstein was a one-stop “fixer” for heads of state.
“Epstein was a fixer...If you listen to one audio tape of him, listen to that conversation between Ehud Barak and Jeffrey Epstein. It’s a miracle it exists.” – Massie [16:41]
- Massie debunks the idea Epstein ruled by blackmail alone; many elites willingly partook because he supplied what they wanted.
“Does a drug dealer operate on blackmail? Does a pimp operate on blackmail? He’s providing you with something. He doesn’t need to blackmail you.” – Massie [19:07]
- Many institutions, including MIT, actively sought Epstein's money after his 2008 conviction.
4. DOJ Failures—Accident or Design?
[20:09–40:53]
- DOJ’s redactions focus more on hiding the names of perpetrators than protecting victims.
"Why are you blacking out co-defendants unless they've decided those are also somehow victims?" – Kibbe [20:09]
- DOJ falls back on “incompetence” as an explanation, but Kibbe and Massie note how this conveniently shields powerful actors.
“Some people asked me, do you think the DOJ made these mistakes on purpose? … to create an outcry so there would be no more files released...I don't think that's the case. I'm fully confident they are capable of this level of incompetence.” – Massie [04:33]
- DOJ offers members of Congress access to view unredacted files—but only in controlled settings.
5. Crowdsourcing & Citizen Journalism
[37:18–38:04]
- Massie encourages the public to dig into the files and point out specific points for congressional scrutiny.
"If there are things in the files that you need to go check out unredacted, when is that going to happen? ... I think they could give you the intelligence you need to spend your time wisely there." – Kibbe [37:18]
- Drawing parallels with COVID investigation crowd-sourcing, both stress that transparency comes from the outside, not official channels.
6. Political Fallout and Retaliation
[40:53–53:33]
- Massie describes immediate retaliation after data dump: "$800,000 of ads were bought against me by a super PAC…within hours of this coming out." [53:33]
- Trump's response is to attack Massie and his wife, which paradoxically helps fundraising.
“Every time he sends out a mean tweet, most of them are directed at me...The attack on my wife has...yielded $40,000 of campaign funds.” – Massie [58:07]
- Trump and establishment figures behave as if personal embarrassment and interests are at risk, doubling down on silence or attacks rather than transparency.
- Massie and Kibbe stress that the Epstein scandal is fundamentally a “uniparty club”—not left vs. right, but insiders versus everyone else:
"Once the clothes come off, it doesn't matter if you're Republican or Democrat… It's not a partisan thing. Once you get into billions, most of these guys give to both parties." – Massie [63:18]
7. Hope for Accountability?
[41:14–44:09]
- Massie is “optimistic” some justice will be done—not necessarily full criminal prosecution but significant reputational or career damage.
"I think it's higher than most people think. I think they're going to get caught." – Massie [41:14]
- Lays out the two-step path: public pressure led to the data release, and now the released data must be used to force more transparency, public pressure, and prosecutions.
8. Potential for Smearing of Innocents
[46:06–48:42]
- The data dump contains embarrassing mentions of many figures, including those with no evidence of criminal activity.
"Elon Musk...shows up in the files in emails...he says he's never been, and I believe him." – Massie [46:06] "I appear in the files at least a dozen times because I made the newsletter...There's no conspiracy there." – Massie [48:21]
Notable Quotes & Moments
- On DOJ Redactions and Accountability:
“It's a masterclass in how you can take just a few words out of a whole page and obfuscate exactly what was going on.” – Massie [33:09]
- On the Scope of Corruption:
“When we look back at the Epstein scandal, it's going to be bigger than Watergate...It spans four administrations.” – Massie [11:29]
- On DOJ’s ‘Incompetence’:
“I'm fully confident they are capable of this level of incompetence.” – Massie [04:43]
- On Partisanship and the Epstein Elite:
"Once the party starts at one of those places, I guarantee it, it’s not a partisan thing. Once you get into billions, most of these guys you give to both parties." – Massie [63:18]
- Citizen Journalism & Public Accountability:
“The checksum we have is the survivors who can tell us names. And until I see those names, I know we don’t have all the documents.” – Massie [34:33]
Timestamps of Significant Segments
- 01:10 – Massie details what is (and isn’t) in the DOJ data dump.
- 04:33 – Massie discusses DOJ motivation and incompetence.
- 11:13 – Why mainstream media is almost totally ignoring the story.
- 16:41 – Epstein as fixer for heads of state (Ehud Barak example).
- 20:09 – Kibbe and Massie question redactions that cover co-conspirators.
- 29:49 – Q&A from social media: Why are predators’ names redacted?
- 33:09 – Insight on redaction strategies and government secrecy.
- 37:18 – Massie encourages the public to help identify targets for congressional review.
- 41:14 – Will there be accountability for those implicated?
- 46:06 – Discussion on potential for smearing the innocent in data dump.
- 53:33 – Political retaliation against Massie ramps up after document release.
- 58:07 – Trump’s attacks boomerang into fundraising success for Massie.
- 63:18 – Final reflection on the uniparty nature of the scandal.
Conclusion
This episode offers a candid, in-depth examination of the official mishandling and political reality behind the DOJ Epstein files dump. Congressman Massie shares insider perspective on how government transparency is systematically resisted by elites from all sides, how real justice may only happen under continued public pressure, and why everyday citizens must step up where institutions fail. The episode is characterized by an irreverent, at times conspiratorial but evidence-based tone, with Massie and Kibbe treating the subject with both seriousness and wry skepticism. For those following the Epstein case or concerned about government transparency, this conversation delivers both context and a call to action.