Epstein Survivors Make Final Plea Ahead of Crucial House Vote
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse have released a compelling video directly addressing House Republicans, urging them to vote in favour of releasing all documents related to the late convicted sex offender. The emotional public service announcement features women holding photographs of themselves as teenagers when they first encountered Epstein.
The video, released on Sunday evening by World Without Exploitation, shows survivors staring directly into the camera while sharing their harrowing experiences. One woman reveals she was just 14 years old when she first met Epstein, while others were 16 and 17. "I've suffered so much pain," one survivor states in the one-minute clip that has sparked renewed attention to the case.
Decades of Darkness: Survivors Demand Transparency
"This was me when I met Jeffrey Epstein," says another survivor, holding up a childhood photograph. The group emphasises that approximately 1,000 victims exist, many still waiting for full transparency about the case that has spanned multiple presidential administrations.
"Five administrations and we're still in the dark," the video declares, making a direct appeal to viewers to contact their congressional representatives and demand support for the measure that would compel the Department of Justice to release all files in its possession.
Lauren Hersh, national director of World Without Exploitation, explained that survivors view Tuesday's House vote as a critical opportunity to protect minors from future abuse. "They want the public to see how gaps in the system allowed a predator to operate for years and to understand what must change to prevent that from happening again," Hersh stated.
Political Divisions Emerge Over Document Release
The push for transparency has created unusual political alliances and divisions. Far-right Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has pledged her loyalty to Epstein survivors, sharing a letter purportedly signed by more than two dozen victims thanking her for "standing up against the intimidation, silencing and abuse that Epstein survivors have endured for decades."
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has publicly questioned the ongoing interest in Epstein, describing the push to release documents as a "hoax" and part of a Democratic-led smear campaign. When questioned about the controversy on Sunday evening, Trump snapped at reporters, accusing them of deflecting from his administration's successes.
Survivor Annie Farmer, featured in the video and who testified at Ghislaine Maxwell's 2021 sex trafficking trial, emphasised that the issue transcends politics. "Please remember that these are crimes that were committed against real humans, real individuals. This is not a political issue," Farmer told NBC News. She noted that her sister had reported alleged abuse during the Clinton administration, with "mistakes made" under subsequent administrations.
The renewed pressure comes after the Justice Department and FBI released a memo in July effectively concluding their investigation and claiming no further public disclosures were warranted, despite campaign pledges from Trump and pressure from his allies.
As Tuesday's House vote approaches, survivors continue their decades-long fight for transparency, hoping that this time, the secrets will finally emerge from the shadows.
