Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein‘s abuse gathered on Capitol Hill Wednesday to call on President Donald Trump to take personal action to release the Epstein files and said they would create their own “list” of co-conspirators.
The press conference follows the release of 33,000 documents, videos, and audio recordings by the House Oversight Committee as part of a subpoena from Democrats. However, nearly all of the files released were already available to the public, drawing criticism and echoing a broader public sentiment that the Trump administration was not fully transparent on Epstein.
The survivors were joined by supporters and politicians, notably Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and right-wing hardliner Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, R-Ga., who went against Trump’s wishes and signed a discharge petition to advance legislation seeking clarity on the Epstein files.
“The speaker of the House just offered a fig leaf to my colleagues. They’re gonna vote on a non-binding resolution today that does absolutely nothing,” Massie said. “The perpetrators are being protected because they are rich and powerful, and are political donors to the establishment here in Washington, D.C.”
Taylor-Greene called the push for truth and transparency on the Epstein scandal “the most important fight” in Congress.
“The truth needs to come out,” she said, “and the government holds the truth…the truth we are demanding come out.”
The survivors of Epstein’s crimes took turns addressing the gathered crowd of reporters and supporters, criticizing the government and calling on Trump to take action.
“I am no longer weak. I am no longer powerless. And I am no longer alone,” said survivor Anouska de Georgiou. “President Trump, you have so much influence and power in this situation. Please use that influence and power to help us.”
Epstein survivor Marina Lacerda demanded the government show more “respect” to victims.
We need your help to stay independent
“The worst part,” Lacerda said, “is that the government is still in possession right now of documents and information that could help me remember and get over all of this maybe, and help me heal. They have documents with my name on them that were confiscated from Jeffrey Epstein’s house.”
When asked what message she would like to send to Trump, Lacerda declined. “I don’t want to send a direct message to him,” she said. “I’m already scared enough.”
Survivor Lisa Phillips announced that the group of survivors were planning on creating their “own list” of Epstein perpetrators and accomplices.
“We know the same,” Phillips said. “Many of us were abused by them…we will confidentially compile the names we all know.”
“It will be done by survivors, and for survivors. No one else is involved,” Phillips added.
Trump remained unmoved by the sentiments expressed during the press conference. Speaking with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump called the Epstein scandal a “Democrat hoax that never ends,” adding that “nobody’s ever satisfied” with his administration’s handling of the Epstein files.
“It is irrelevant to the success of the nation…Really, I think it’s enough,” Trump said.
