Washington, D.C. — September 4, 2025
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse gathered outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in a poignant press conference, sharing harrowing personal stories and urging Congress to fully disclose government-held documents related to the late financier’s crimes. The event, organized amid growing bipartisan support for transparency, highlighted the survivors’ frustration with the slow pace of investigations and the politicization of their trauma, especially after President Donald Trump dismissed the push for more files as a “Democrat hoax.”
More than a dozen women, including prominent survivors like Virginia Giuffre, Maria Farmer, and Juliette Bryant, stood alongside lawmakers such as Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu of California to amplify their call for action. They emphasized the need for the release of unredacted FBI files, court documents, and other records that could reveal the full extent of Epstein’s network and any potential complicity by powerful figures. “The abuse was real,” said Giuffre, who has long advocated for justice. “We are not pawns in a political game. We deserve the truth, and so does the American public.”
The press conference comes as Rep. Massie’s petition to release Epstein-related documents gains momentum on Capitol Hill, with over 50 co-signers from both parties. Survivors expressed disappointment in the government’s handling of the case, pointing to delays in declassifying materials despite promises from previous administrations. Bryant, another survivor, directly addressed Trump: “I cordially invite you to the Capitol to meet me in person so you can understand this is not a hoax.” She added that hearing the president label their efforts as a hoax was “gutting” and “devastating,” especially for those who had voted for him expecting protection.
President Trump, responding to questions about the event during a White House briefing, reiterated his stance. “This is a Democrat hoax that never ends,” he said, suggesting the renewed focus was an attempt to distract from his administration’s achievements. When pressed further, Trump called the files “irrelevant” and questioned the motives behind the push for disclosure. His comments echo previous statements where he distanced himself from Epstein, despite their past social connections in New York and Palm Beach circles.
Lawmakers at the event pushed back against the president’s characterization. Rep. Massie argued that transparency transcends party lines, stating, “This isn’t about politics; it’s about justice for victims and accountability for enablers.” Rep. Lieu, a vocal critic of Trump, called the hoax label “insensitive” and urged the administration to prioritize survivor voices over partisan rhetoric.
The survivors also revealed they are compiling their own list of Epstein’s associates, based on personal experiences and available records, to fill gaps left by official investigations. “If the government won’t do it, we will,” said Farmer, who accused Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell of abusing her in the 1990s. Maxwell, convicted in 2021 on sex trafficking charges, is currently serving a 20-year sentence, but survivors say many questions about her network remain unanswered.
Advocacy groups, including the National Center for Victims of Crime, praised the survivors’ courage and called on Congress to pass legislation mandating the release of Epstein files with minimal redactions to protect ongoing probes. Legal experts note that while some documents have been unsealed in civil suits, thousands of pages remain classified, potentially shielding high-profile individuals mentioned in them.
As the press conference concluded, survivors vowed to continue their fight, imploring both Congress and the White House to act swiftly. “There is no hoax here—only real pain and a demand for real answers,” Giuffre concluded. With bipartisan interest building, the coming weeks could see renewed debates on Capitol Hill about balancing national security concerns with the public’s right to know.