Via tears, a gaggle of ladies who say they have been victimized by Jeffrey Epstein shared their tales on Capitol Hill as they known as on lawmakers to help the discharge of information that the Division of Justice has up to now withheld from Congress.
“This isn’t a hoax. It isn’t going to go away,” stated Marina Lacerda, a central witness in Epstein’s 2019 indictment who spoke with ABC News.
Anouska De Georgiou, the primary survivor of Epstein and his longtime affiliate Ghislaine Maxwell to step to the rostrum, stated the victims are coming collectively to have their voices be heard.
Survivor Anouska De Georgiou embraces survivor Danielle Bensky as survivor Marina Lacerda appears to be like on throughout a information convention with alleged victims of disgraced financier and intercourse trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, Sept. 3, 2025 in Washington.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photos
“The times of sweeping this below the rug are over. We the survivors say ‘no extra,'” she stated.
“I am not weak, I’m not powerless and I am not alone. And together with your vote, neither will the following era,” she stated. “President Trump, you will have a lot affect and energy on this scenario. Please use that affect and energy to assist us, as a result of we want it now, and this nation wants it now.”
Marina Lacerda, sufferer of late financier Jeffrey Epstein, speaks throughout a press convention on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 3, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Anouska De Georgiou, who testified about sexual abuse within the Jeffrey Epstein case, speaks throughout a press convention and rally in help of the victims of Epstein and his confederate Ghislaine Maxwell exterior the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on September 3, 2025.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Trump was requested in regards to the press convention pushing for transparency on the Epstein recordsdata on the White Home on Wednesday. He continued to insist it was a “Epstein hoax” distracting from his administration’s success.
“It is a Democrat hoax that by no means ends,” Trump claimed.
Survivor after survivor, nonetheless, implored lawmakers to again a bipartisan push from Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna to compel the Justice Division to publicly launch the Epstein recordsdata.
“Mr. President, Donald J. Trump, I’m a registered Republican — not that that issues, as a result of this isn’t political — nonetheless, I cordially invite you to the Capitol to satisfy me in particular person so you may perceive this isn’t a hoax. We’re actual human beings. That is actual trauma,” survivor Haley Robson stated when requested by ABC Information Capitol Hill Correspondent Jay O’Brien about Trump’s feedback calling the matter a “hoax.”
Haley Robson, sufferer of financier Jeffrey Epstein, speaks throughout a press convention to debate the Epstein Recordsdata Transparency invoice on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Sept. 3, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
At occasions rising emotional, some survivors additionally detailed the abuse they stated they suffered by the hands of Epstein, some saying the abuse occurred once they have been youngsters.
“I had by no means been extra scared in my life than I used to be that first time that he harm me,” Jena-Lisa Jones recounted. She stated she first met Epstein when she was 14 years outdated.
“I do know that I used to be just a bit child however generally I nonetheless really feel that it was my fault this occurred,” she added by means of tears.
“It is time for us to see backstage. Why was Jeffrey Epstein so protected? Who continues to be being protected? And who protected all of them, so the world can perceive how Jeffrey was in a position to abuse so many people for therefore lengthy,” stated Courtney Wild, an Epstein survivor.
Rep. Thomas Massie and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene attend a information convention with alleged victims of disgraced financier and intercourse trafficker Jeffrey Epstein exterior the U.S. Capitol, September 03, 2025 in Washington.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Photos
Up to now, 4 Republicans have signed on to the Massie and Khanna discharge petition — a procedural instrument to bypass GOP management and pressure a vote. These signers embody Massie, Reps. Nancy Mace, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert.
If all 212 Democrats signal the petition, solely two Republicans are wanted to achieve the 218 wanted to compel a vote on the Home flooring.
“I hope my colleagues are watching this press convention. I would like them to assume, what if this was your sister? What if this was your daughter?” Massie stated.
“At present we stand with survivors, we stand in opposition to huge cash, we stand to guard America’s youngsters. That’s actually what that is about,” Khanna stated on Wednesday.
Lawyer Bradley Edwards, who has represented greater than 200 Epstein survivors, stated the push ought to “move with flying colours.”
“Whereas we’ve seen the paperwork, you have not, and while you see the paperwork, you are going to be appalled,” Edwards stated on the press convention.
Folks demostrate through the Stand with Survivors Rally in help of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s victims, in Washington, September 3, 2025.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Home Republican management, nonetheless, is against the Massie and Khanna effort — as is the White Home.
Speaker Mike Johnson urged Republicans to not help Massie’s discharge petition throughout a closed convention assembly Wednesday morning, in response to a number of sources.
“It doesn’t adequately shield the harmless victims, and that may be a essential element,” Johnson stated on Tuesday of the discharge petition.
Johnson as an alternative argued the continuing investigation by the Home Oversight Committee, which has subpoenaed information from the Justice Division and the Epstein property, is the higher path as a result of committee investigators will pour over the recordsdata and redact any figuring out or in any other case confidential data.
The Home Oversight Committee on Tuesday night launched tens of 1000’s of pages associated to Epstein, a lot of which was already publicly recognized.
Rep. Thomas Massie speaks throughout a press convention to debate the Epstein Recordsdata Transparency invoice on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 3, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
“To the American individuals — do not let this idiot you,” Rep. Robert Garcia, the highest Democrat on the Home Oversight Committee, stated after the discharge. “After cautious assessment, Oversight Democrats have discovered that 97% of the paperwork acquired from the Division of Justice have been already public. There isn’t a point out of any consumer record or something that improves transparency or justice for victims.”
Epstein was arrested in July 2019 and charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy and little one intercourse trafficking. He died in custody a month later, whereas awaiting trial. His loss of life was dominated a suicide by hanging.
Maxwell was convicted in 2021 by a federal jury on intercourse trafficking and different fees. She is at present serving a 20-year jail sentence for aiding and taking part in Epstein’s trafficking of underage women, which concerned a scheme to recruit younger girls and women for massages of Epstein that turned sexual.
