Epstein survivors gather at Capitol Hill ahead of vote to release files
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse spoke on Capitol Hill ahead of Congress’ vote on releasing the files.
Some of the most vocal victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse will be among the hundreds of guests watching President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.
More than a dozen women said at a Feb. 24 press conference that they would continue to return to the Capitol until all documents collected by the Justice Department about Epstein are released as required by law.
The ministry released more than 3 million files in late December and late January, but withheld more than 3 million files and blacked out much of the information in the released files. The Epstein Transparency Act, a bill passed by Congress late last year, required the release of all documents and allowed the redaction of identifying information about victims.
President Trump initially rejected attempts to release the documents, saying during his campaign that they should be made public. He signed the bill after it passed the House and Senate with veto-proof majorities and has since argued that the country should move on from Epstein.
Epstein, who is accused of assaulting 1,000 women and girls, committed suicide in prison in 2019, a month after he was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges.
More than a dozen Democratic politicians invited survivors as guests at the State of the Union.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat and the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia will bring in Mr. Skye and Amanda Roberts, the brother-in-law and sister-in-law of Epstein’s accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who committed suicide last year.
“Today is a monumental day. Today we say to this administration and the people that survivors deserve to be met,” Amanda Roberts said at a news conference hours before her speech, adding that she expected President Trump to say it’s time to move forward again. “Don’t take your eyes off us. Don’t take your eyes off Virginia. And don’t leave survivors behind again.”
Ms. Giuffre’s decision to sue Mr. Epstein and his ex-girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, led to other women coming forward and a federal investigation. Maxwell is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for sex trafficking charges related to her relationship with Epstein.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York invited Marina Lacerda, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York invited Dani Bensky.
Democrats joined survivors in pressuring the Justice Department to release more documents related to the government’s investigation.
“Those in power will be held accountable, and we will not rest until that happens,” Schumer said at an afternoon press conference.
California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, a co-sponsor of the bill that forced the Justice Department to release the Epstein files, said in a statement that he invited Haley Robson as a way to “bring accountability to the Epstein ranks.”
Some Democratic lawmakers boycotting the speech called on survivors to attend without them.
Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who invited Marie Chartouni, said at a news conference that it was important for survivors to be present to show the country still cared about the Epstein file.
Rep. Maxine Dexter, R-Ore., who plans to use the time to address constituents, said in a statement that survivor Lisa Phillips’ “appearance will send a clear message that Epstein survivors will not be silenced and those in power will not be protected. Our government is accountable to the people it serves.”
“I plan to come back again and again until the entire Epstein file is released, because without full transparency, accountability is impossible,” Phillips said at a news conference. “We’re not going to go away. We’re not going to disappear into silence.”
