Victims of Jeffrey Epstein have gathered at the US Capitol to share their emotional stories of abuse and call for the release of more investigation documents related to the convicted sex offender.
During the rally, one of the women, Lisa Phillips, announced that the group is compiling a confidential list of Epstein's associates whom they believe participated in the abuse. We will confidentially compile the names we all know were regularly in the Epstein world, said Phillips. It will be done by survivors, and for survivors.
The event was organized by US lawmakers advocating for increased transparency and access to files from the Epstein investigation.
Throughout the two-hour conference, nine women detailed their harrowing experiences with Epstein. Phillips urged the US Department of Justice (DoJ) to release all relevant documents, noting that many survivors fear negative repercussions for going public. Nobody protected them the first time, stated a lawyer representing the victims.
Marina Lacerda, who spoke publicly for the first time, described her traumatic experience working for Epstein from the age of 14, emphasizing the severe impact of being lured into his dangerous world under false pretenses.
Liz Stein, a survivor and policy adviser, highlighted that this is a crime to be addressed without political bias, urging awareness of the real implications of sex trafficking. Another accuser, Annie Farmer, revealed investigations into previous reports of abuse were not adequately pursued, allowing Epstein to continue his horrifying acts.
Despite the sensitive nature of the topic and amidst ongoing investigations, survivors like Chauntae Davies addressed the public narratives involving high-profile figures like Donald Trump, who has publicly distanced himself from Epstein in recent years.
As calls for action intensify, discussions within the House of Representatives continue, with some members pushing for the release of all documents related to Epstein's activities.
