Epstein accuser speaks of abuse and manipulative tactics
Epstein accuser Lisa Phillips has told how Jeffrey Epstein groomed and manipulated young girls into silence and abuse.
Following the release of emails sent by Jeffrey Epstein, Congress is poised to vote to urge the Trump administration to fully release files on suspected sex traffickers.
In the House, after Republican Speaker Mike Johnson swore in Arizona Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva on Nov. 12, an expulsion petition to force a vote on the Justice Department releasing all files related to Epstein reached 218 signatures.
Grijalva, who won a special election to replace his late father Raul Grijalva, immediately became the 218th signatory. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he expected the bill to be voted on in the House of Commons next week.
Democrats, who are in the minority in the House, submitted 214 signatures to the petition, and four Republicans joined the opposition.
Here’s what you need to know about the four Republican senators.
thomas massey councilor
Massie (R-Ky.) spearheaded the release of the files along with House Democrats.
Earlier this year, Massey and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) introduced a bill that would force the Justice Department to release the entire government file on Epstein.
Massey filed a so-called dismissal petition against the bill in July, which ultimately reached the required 218 votes this week. This process would force a vote on the bill and clear other hurdles in the House.
According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, part of the USA TODAY network, Massey has repeatedly said he believes it is time for those involved in the Epstein scandal to be “bred to justice.”
Congresswoman Lauren Boebert
Boebert, a Colorado Republican, faced pressure from the Trump administration to withdraw her discharge petition.
Boebert, a staunch Trump ally, received a phone call from Trump on November 11, according to the New York Times. Then, on November 12, she met with White House officials about the petition.
Boebert thanked officials for the rally in a social media post, but did not say whether she would withdraw from the effort. Colorado lawmakers ultimately did not remove her name.
“I want to thank the White House officials for meeting with me today. We will continue to work together to ensure transparency for the American people,” she said.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene
The Georgia Republican has historically been a fierce defender of Trump. But in the last few weeks. Greene has begun to speak out more loudly against the Trump administration.
When Massey first announced his discharge petition in July, Greene said in a social media post that he intended to sign it and would “never protect pedophiles, elites and their circles.”
According to a September interview with the New York Times, Greene, like Boebert, was contacted by White House officials who tried to pressure Republicans to withdraw from the petition. But Green remained resolute.
“I told them, ‘You didn’t elect me. I’m not working for you. I’m working for my district,'” she told the outlet.
Greene said in a social media post that she expected more Republicans to vote in favor of releasing the files next week.
“Next week, when everyone is forced to go on record to vote to release the Epstein files, I expect the number of Republicans who will actually vote yes to be even higher,” Greene said. “But remember the original four.”
Congresswoman Nancy Mace
Mace, who is also running for governor in South Carolina, said she signed the petition in solidarity with survivors of sexual abuse and assault.
“Epstein’s petition is deeply personal,” Mace said in a social media post on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
In September, Mace walked out of a closed-door meeting with Epstein victims of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform because he had “very hard time hearing their stories.”
“Full-scale panic attack. Sweating, hyperventilating, shaking, unable to breathe,” Mace wrote on social media about her reaction to the testimony. Mr. Mace left in tears.
Mace said in July that he hoped to be arrested in connection with the Epstein case.
“I’ve always been an advocate for women and children, and the Jeffrey Epstein case is no different. I hope he gets arrested,” Mace said. “I want to see someone handcuffed and behind bars raping an underage girl.”
USA TODAY’s Zac Anderson, Bart Jansen, Joey Garrison and Josh Meyer contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.
