Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse are renewing their calls for transparency, demanding the release of all government files related to the convicted sex offender’s network. Their pleas come after former President Donald Trump brushed off their pursuit of justice as a partisan “hoax,” sparking outrage among victims and lawmakers alike.
Survivors Demand Justice, Not Politics
At a press conference on Capitol Hill, survivors stood shoulder to shoulder, reminding the public that their fight is not about politics but about accountability.
Haley Robson, one of the survivors, described the pain of Trump’s remarks.
“It felt like being gutted from the inside out,” she said.
She also extended a direct invitation to Trump:
“Mr. President Donald J. Trump, I am a registered Republican — not that that matters because this is not political — however, I cordially invite you to meet me in the Capitol in person so you can understand this is not a hoax. We are real human beings. This is real trauma.”
Survivors Consider Their Own List of Names
Another survivor, Lisa Phillips, pushed back forcefully, calling on federal officials to unseal the remaining Epstein files. Phillips suggested that survivors themselves may begin compiling and confidentially sharing names of individuals tied to Epstein’s inner circle.
“We know the names, many of us were abused by them,” she said. “We’re not quite sure how we’re going to release that or even if we’re going to. [But] it will be done by survivors and for survivors — no one else is involved.”
Her statement underscored the survivors’ growing frustration with government inaction and the continued shielding of influential figures who may have had ties to Epstein.
Bipartisan Push in Congress
Lawmakers across the aisle have taken up the survivors’ cause. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna are leading a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the sealed Epstein files.
“The survivors deserve justice and Americans deserve transparency,” Massie said in a post on X.
As of Wednesday, the petition had 206 signatures. It needs 218 to trigger a vote on the House floor. With 212 Democrats expected to sign, only a handful of Republicans would be needed to move the measure forward.
So far, Reps. Nancy Mace, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Lauren Boebert have joined Massie in backing the petition, creating an unusual alliance between far-right Republicans and progressive Democrats.
Trump Doubles Down
Despite the growing bipartisan support, Trump dismissed the push as a political maneuver.
“This is a Democrat hoax that never ends,” Trump told reporters. “Thousands of pages have already been given. But they keep wanting more because it’s political.”
His comments, however, rang hollow for survivors who insist their demand is rooted in justice, not party lines.
Playing From an Old Playbook
Facing criticism, Trump pivoted to familiar rhetoric, invoking crime statistics in Democratic-led cities — many with majority-Black populations — and portraying them as evidence of his claims about failed governance. He also credited Washington, D.C.’s temporary crime decline as a model for the nation, despite having no direct role in those numbers.
Critics swiftly called out the diversion tactic. They argued Trump was once again scapegoating Black communities to deflect from uncomfortable questions — in this case, the growing pressure to unseal Epstein’s files.
A Fight for Transparency
For survivors, the issue remains simple: their trauma should not be minimized or politicized. The release of Epstein’s records could provide long-awaited answers and accountability for crimes that exploited power, money, and influence at the highest levels.
By calling the matter a “hoax,” Trump’s dismissal added fresh pain for victims who say they have already endured years of silence and neglect.
As survivors, lawmakers, and the public demand answers, the question looms: will the government finally allow the truth of Epstein’s world to be revealed — or will political battles continue to shield the powerful from accountability?
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