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Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse gathered on Capitol Hill this week to demand the release of all government files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender.
The rally placed U.S. President Donald Trump at the center of the controversy, as victims and lawmakers pressed him to stop blocking disclosure.
Survivors said the Epstein files hold the key to accountability and asked Congress to release them in full as they shared their experiences of abuse.
Nine women who said they were abused by Epstein spoke publicly in Washington on Wednesday. Many described in detail how Epstein lured them into what one called “a large and disturbing world.”
Some of the survivors were speaking for the first time.
Lisa Phillips, who met Epstein in the 2000s, said survivors were creating their own confidential list of men associated with Epstein.
Other survivors backed Phillips. But many admitted they were afraid to release such a list, citing risks of lawsuits, threats, and attacks. Attorney Bradley Edwards, who represents several women, said: “Nobody protected them the first time.”
Marina Lacerda, originally from Brazil, spoke publicly for the first time.
Annie Farmer, another survivor, said she was flown in from New Mexico at 16 and abused.
Haley Robson, who was abused as a teenager, addressed Trump directly.
Donald Trump said the Epstein files controversy was nothing more than a hoax when asked about the issue during an Oval Office meeting.
As survivors spoke on Capitol Hill, Trump was in the Oval Office meeting Polish President Karol Nawrocki. Asked about the news conference, he responded: “This is a Democrat hoax that never ends.”
He said his administration had already released thousands of pages and argued that “nobody is ever satisfied.” He added: “Really, I think it’s enough.”
Trump’s tone mirrored his past remarks. During the 2024 campaign he pledged to release all Epstein files. But since returning to office he has dismissed the issue, despite bipartisan demands for transparency.
Survivors reacted sharply to Trump’s comments. Lacerda said: “This is not a hoax, it’s not going away.” Robson added: “We are real human beings and this is real trauma. To say that it’s a hoax just makes you want to explode inside.”
Chauntae Davies, another survivor, said Epstein bragged for years about his friendship with Trump. “He had a framed picture of him on his desk, with the two of them,” she said. But Davies and others said they had never seen Trump commit abuse.
The Epstein files debate has now moved to Congress, where lawmakers are fighting over a petition to force their release against Trump’s wishes.
Two lawmakers, Republican Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democrat Ro Khanna of California, filed a discharge petition to force a vote requiring the Justice Department to release all Epstein-related files.
To succeed, they need 218 signatures. All Democrats have backed the petition, but it still needs at least six Republicans. So far four Republicans (Massie, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, and Lauren Boebert of Colorado) have signed on.
Massie said Trump and Republican leaders were pressuring members not to support the bill. “It’s shameful this has been called a hoax. This is not a hoax,” he said, as reported by BBC. “There are real victims to this criminal enterprise and the perpetrators are being protected because they are rich and powerful.”
Greene, usually a strong Trump ally, broke ranks. She said she was willing to read the survivors’ private list of Epstein associates on the House floor. “I am not afraid to name names,” she said. “If they want to give me a list, I will walk in that Capitol, on the House floor and say every damn name.”
Other Republicans have hesitated. Some argue that thousands of pages already released make the bill unnecessary. However, survivors and their lawyers insist the existing files reveal little new information and contain heavy redactions.
Democrats and survivors criticized the latest release of Epstein files, saying Trump’s administration withheld key information.
The House Oversight Committee this week released 33,000 pages of documents it received from the Justice Department. But lawmakers from both parties said most of the pages were old court filings already in the public domain.
“After careful review, Oversight Democrats have found that 97% of the documents received… were already public,” said Representative Robert Garcia, the committee’s top Democrat. “There is no mention of any client list or anything that improves transparency or justice for victims.”
The Justice Department and FBI have said no “client list” exists. Earlier this year Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared to suggest the opposite, telling Fox News she had such a list “on my desk.”
Her office later said she was referring to general files, not a secret client record. The contradiction has fueled confusion and conspiracy theories.
Survivors said the Epstein files must be made public because fear and threats kept them silent for years and still shape their lives.
British survivor Anouska De Georgiou said Epstein and Maxwell threatened her. She said she faced surveillance and feared for her safety, even during school runs with her daughter.
She said Maxwell had been moved to a lower-security setting and called that transfer alarming. Annie Farmer added that survivors learned of Maxwell’s move from news reports.
Virginia Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, said powerful people protected Epstein for years. He urged the White House and Congress to release every file. He called the current stance “a cover-up” and said the public wants the truth.
Trump’s long association with Epstein has made the Epstein files debate even more charged.
Trump and Epstein were photographed together several times in the 1990s and early 2000s. Trump has acknowledged they were friendly but says the relationship ended in 2004 after a dispute over property.
He has also said he expelled Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago resort for inappropriate behavior. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate now serving a 20-year sentence, told investigators earlier this year that she never saw Trump behave inappropriately.
Survivors emphasized that their demand is not partisan. Liz Stein, who sued Epstein and Maxwell, said: “It’s really important for us all to remember that this is a crime. It’s a crime of sex trafficking. This isn’t a political issue, but it’s being politicized because of the people involved.”
Future of Epstein files hinges on House decision
The next step in the Epstein files dispute depends on whether two more Republicans will defy Trump and join Democrats to force a House vote.
Survivors insist that without transparency, justice will never be achieved. “We are not asking for pity,” Lisa Phillips said. “We are here demanding accountability. And I’m demanding justice.”
The future of the files now depends on the political fight in Washington. Even if the House compels release, the bill would need Senate approval and Trump’s signature.
Survivors say they will keep pressing until that happens. As Annie Farmer put it: “Congress must choose whether it will protect predators or survivors.”
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