A bunch of Jeffrey Epstein survivors spoke out on Capitol Hill on Wednesday as a part of a push to have all recordsdata associated to the accused intercourse trafficker launched.
“This isn’t a hoax. It isn’t going to go away,” mentioned 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, mentioned the victims are coming collectively to have their voices be heard.
“The times of sweeping this underneath the rug are over. We the survivors say ‘no extra,'” she mentioned.
“I am not weak, I’m not powerless and I am not alone. And along with your vote, neither will the following technology,” she mentioned. “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.”
Anouska De Georgiou, who testified about sexual abuse within the Jeffrey Epstein case, speaks throughout a press convention and rally in assist 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 Pictures
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 “hoax” distracting from his administration’s success.
“It is a Democrat hoax that by no means ends,” Trump claimed.
Survivor after survivor, nevertheless, 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 — nevertheless, I cordially invite you to the Capitol to fulfill 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 mentioned 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 mentioned they suffered by the hands of Epstein, some saying the abuse occurred once they had been youngsters.
“I hope my colleagues are watching this press convention. I need them to assume, what if this was your sister? What if this was your daughter?” Massie mentioned.
“In the present day we stand with survivors, we stand in opposition to large cash, we stand to guard America’s youngsters. That’s actually what that is about,” Khanna mentioned on Wednesday.
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 Pictures
To date, 4 Republicans have signed on to the Massie and Khanna discharge petition — a procedural instrument to bypass GOP management and power 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 succeed in the 218 wanted to compel a vote on the Home flooring.
Legal professional Bradley Edwards, who has represented greater than 200 Epstein survivors, mentioned the push ought to “go with flying colours.”
“Whereas we have now seen the paperwork, you have not, and while you see the paperwork, you are going to be appalled,” Edwards mentioned on the press convention.
Folks demostrate throughout the Stand with Survivors Rally in assist of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s victims, in Washington, September 3, 2025.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Home Republican management, nevertheless, is against the Massie and Khanna effort — as is the White Home.
Speaker Mike Johnson urged Republicans to not assist Massie’s discharge petition throughout a closed convention assembly Wednesday morning, in line with a number of sources.
“It doesn’t adequately shield the harmless victims, and that could be a crucial element,” Johnson mentioned on Tuesday of the discharge petition. On Wednesday
Johnson as an alternative argued the continued 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 folks — do not let this idiot you,” Rep. Robert Garcia, the highest Democrat on the Home Oversight Committee, mentioned after the discharge. “After cautious evaluation, Oversight Democrats have discovered that 97% of the paperwork acquired from the Division of Justice had been already public. There isn’t a point out of any consumer listing or something that improves transparency or justice for victims.”
Epstein was arrested in July 2019 and charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy and youngster 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 costs. She is at the moment serving a 20-year jail sentence for aiding and collaborating in Epstein’s trafficking of underage ladies, which concerned a scheme to recruit younger ladies and ladies for massages of Epstein that turned sexual.
Forward of the information convention with lawmakers, a number of of the survivors and their households held a rally exterior the Capitol.
“It is the voices of survivors of those crimes which might be essential, so we’re right here collectively to face united,” mentioned survivor Liz Stein.
