Victims of Jeffrey Epstein gathered on Capitol Hill this week to announce their plans to release their own list of individuals they believe were involved in the abuse orchestrated by the convicted sex offender and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. This announcement came after the Justice Department stated in July that it found no evidence of a client list linked to Epstein’s crimes.
Lisa Phillips, one of the survivors, spoke passionately at a rally, emphasizing that Epstein was not just a predator but also an international human trafficker. She claimed that many people around him were aware of his actions, some even profiting from them, while he remained protected due to his wealth and connections. Phillips expressed her determination to compile a list of names known to survivors, stating, “We know the names. Many of us were abused by them.”
Following the rally, Phillips and other victims held a press conference with bipartisan lawmakers, including Reps. Ro Khanna, Thomas Massie, and Marjorie Taylor Greene. They called for greater transparency from the federal government regarding Epstein’s case. Massie criticized the notion that Epstein and Maxwell acted alone, suggesting that the public deserves to know about others who may have been involved.
The Justice Department’s investigation concluded that Epstein had no client list and reaffirmed that he died by suicide in his jail cell in August 2019. President Trump dismissed ongoing discussions about Epstein, labeling them as distractions pushed by the media and political opponents.
During the press conference, another accuser, Jena-Lisa Jones, shared her painful memories of being abused by Epstein at a young age. She recalled feeling isolated and doubting that anyone would believe her due to Epstein’s wealth and connections.
In a recent development, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee released over 33,000 pages of documents related to Epstein, but many critics found the heavily redacted files to be unhelpful. Lawmakers like Khanna pointed out that less than 1% of the files had been made public, raising concerns about accountability for powerful individuals involved in trafficking and abuse.
This rally marked the largest gathering of Epstein’s accusers since his death in 2019. Lawmakers have been meeting with victims to discuss the release of more documents, and some, like Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, have expressed support for limited disclosures while respecting the privacy of victims.
Massie has taken steps to push for a vote on releasing Epstein’s files through a discharge petition, which requires a majority of House votes to move forward. He is currently seeking support from additional lawmakers to ensure the petition’s success. The victims and their advocates continue to seek justice and accountability in a case that has captured public attention and raised serious questions about power and abuse.
