[0:00]Thank you. >> Thank you, uh, Congresswoman Green for your courage and for being here. And thank you again to Congressman Massie for co-leading it. I now would like to introduce two people who have been
[0:12]fighting this for decades. They haven't had their voice heard. The victims haven't been heard. They haven't just been on this in the last few months. They've been doing this in the wilderness for years. And they are
[0:23]really models of courage. Bradley Edwards and Britney Henderson, who are the attorneys for the victims. Thank you for being here. >> Uh thank you um
[0:37]uh Ro and and Thomas Massie. I I really appreciate you putting forth this discharge petition. Um it's tough to understand that we have to be here because this doesn't seem like a
[0:48]partisan issue. This is an issue. Sex trafficking and sexual abuse transcends politics. We as Americans expect equal protection under the law. And there can be no doubt that Jeffrey Epstein
[1:00]received far greater protection than any of the victims that he abused for years. We in 2008, Courtney Wild walked into my
[1:10]office because she was a part of a federal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein where all she wanted was the government to talk to her. Little did she know the government had worked out a
[1:20]secret immunity deal for Jeffrey Epstein and we had to file Jane Doe's versus United States of America to prove that Jeffrey Epstein worked out
[1:31]an illegal nonprosecution agreement with the government. That was 2008. It took us 10 years battling the government pro bono for the judge to ultimately determine that the victim's rights were
[1:42]violated. The government has has mistreated them after Jeffrey Epste mistreated them. We then filed civil lawsuits against Gillian Maxwell which has resulted in her being in prison. Our
[1:53]civil lawsuits led to her prosecution. We filed lawsuits against Jeffrey Epstein against his estate and against two financial institutions JP Morgan and
[2:04]Deutschbank that prove that they provided knowingly provided the financial infrastructure for a sex trafficking operation. Unfortunately, all of the documents and evidence that
[2:14]we have worked so hard to gather hide behind protective orders, confidentiality agreements, and bank secrecy laws. That is why this discharge petition is so important. While we have
[2:26]seen the documents, you haven't. And when you see the documents, you're going to be appalled. And the American people deserve to see everything. When you sign
[2:35]this discharge petition, it should mean nothing is off limits. That means the documents in the possession of the CIA should be made available. Those in the
[2:45]possession of the FBI going back decades should be made available. The SEC financial records in the possession of Fininsson should be made available. Everybody knows that evil evil
[2:56]flourishes in the darkness. Corruption flourishes in secrecy. It is time right now to make a difference for the women that are behind me right now. They have
[3:07]been courageous and fought through this whole thing. Whether you're a Republican or you're a Democrat, this one is an easy call. You're an American who cares about equal rights and equal protection
[3:18]under the law. If you care about these women, if you care about our country and you care about this issue, this should pass with flying colors. I really
[3:27]appreciate everybody being here. [Applause] [Music] >> Hi, good morning. My name is Britney Henderson and I think in addition to
[3:38]thanking the wonderful congressmen and women who are here today, we need to thank the women and not just the women who are going to speak, but the other women who are standing behind them along with other lawyers, Sigret McAulay and
[3:49]people who have been fighting for a very, very long time for the world to give this kind of attention to an issue that it should have had forever. This administration has the opportunity to do
[4:00]what the past administrations did not do. This administration can either stand with the victims and stand for the victims or it can continue to hurt the victims like has happened in the past.
[4:11]We aren't here just to ask for transparency though. We're here too to ask for protection. The women here represent hundreds of other women who we have spoken to, many of whom were
[4:22]trafficked from other countries from Eastern European countries where women don't have the rights that we have here. Women don't have the protections that we have here. And those women are terrified
[4:32]that their names will be released in these files. The government won't know that they're victims to redact and protect them. So, we ask that you please, whoever is going to be in charge of redacting these files and in charge
[4:44]of this transparency, do it in a way that protects the women brave enough to be here, but also protects the women who are terrified that every day when they turn the TV on, something bad is going
[4:54]to happen to them in Ukraine, in Russia, in whatever country they live in, because no one is listening to them there. So, thank you for being here. Thank you for listening. And please protect these women while we seek
[5:05]transparency. [Applause] Good morning. My name is Anushka Deorgio and I stand before you today as a survivor of both Jeffrey Epstein and
[5:16]Gilen Maxwell. I want to thank Congressman Massie and Kana for their role in putting together this very, very important bill.
[5:26]Every day of this journey toward healing has come at a profound cost to my mental health. But I am here. I chose to come
[5:35]because this bill really matters. I speak today not only in service of my own recovery from trauma inflicted by Maxwell and Epstein, but to honor the lives, the
[5:46]courage and sacrifices of Virginia Duay, Caroline Andreano and others who could not continue. Their
[5:58]voices mattered. Their stories must not be forgotten. Accountability is what makes a society civilized. Equal
[6:08]opportunity and equal consequence for all. Consequences are not about punishment alone. They exist to deter future harm, to protect vulnerable, and
[6:19]to set a standard of justice. If Gillen Maxwell were pardoned, it would undermine all the sacrifices I made to testify and make mockery of mine
[6:30]and all survivors suffering. That is why the Epstein files transparency act is so essential. It requires the Department of Justice
[6:40]release all the records related to Epstein and Maxwell investigations, flight logs, immunity deals, internal communications, and even the records surrounding Epstein's detention and
[6:51]death. And crucially, it forbids withholding documents simply because of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity. This is about ending secrecy wherever
[7:03]abuse of power takes root. But transparency alone is not enough. Survivors need protection, resources, and legal support.
[7:13]If this Congress is serious about justice, then let this moment also affirm your commitment to provide victims with the legal aid they need to confront abusers, to navigate complex
[7:25]systems, and to reclaim their power. Transparency must be matched by support, or else too many victims will remain silent out of fear and lack of access.
[7:36]The statistics demand action. Nearly one in five women in America will experience rape or attempted rape in her lifetime. Every se 74 seconds someone is sexually
[7:48]assaulted. Every 9 minutes that person is a child. These are not numbers. They are people. They are your daughters, your sons, your
[7:59]constituents, your friends. Statistically, one in five of your families will face this nightmare. The days of sweeping this under the rug
[8:11]are over. We, the survivors, say no more. I want to help create a world where survivors of sexual abuse and abuse of
[8:21]power can come forward safely. And I ask Congress to join me in that effort, not only by passing this bill, but by ensuring that those who step forward
[8:32]have legal support to face their abusers and see justice done. [Music] When Judge Burman gave Epstein survivors the chance to finally speak, the world
[8:43]listened. After so many years, survivors were heard. That moment was historic. And so is this moment. For me, the turning point
[8:58]was when I had my daughter and on the day she was born, I knew I had a responsibility to protect her and to pro to protect all children. >> I have to use my voice, the voice that
[9:13]had been silenced by fear and shame for so many years. Make no mistake, my polished exterior is a shield hiding a wound that still bleeds.
[9:25]But through this wound, I have found purpose, to be part of lasting change in how we confront exploitation and abuse. And to
[9:35]be clear, the only motive for opposing this bill would be to conceal wrongdoing. You have a choice. stand with the truth or with the lies that have protected
[9:46]predators for decades. >> I am no longer weak. >> I am no longer powerless.
[9:56]>> And I'm no longer alone. >> And with your vote, neither will the next generation be. >> President Trump, you have so much
[10:07]influence and power in this situation. Please use that influence and power to help us because we need it now and this
[10:15]country needs it now. Thank you. [Applause] >> Hello.
[10:27]My name is Annie Farmer and I was 16 years old when I was flown to New Mexico to spend a weekend with Epstein and Maxwell. That same year, 1996,
[10:38]my sister, Maria Farmer, reported what happened to me there, along with reporting her own assault at their hands and their theft of sensitive photos of
[10:49]herself, of me, and our younger sister that she had taken for her work as a figurative painter. I am now 46 years old. 30 years later, we still do not
[10:59]know why that report wasn't properly investigated or why Epste and his associates were allowed to harm hundreds, if not thousands of other girls and young women. We have never
[11:10]been told whether those images were found when they discovered a large amount of child sexual abuse material on his property. As a psychologist, I understand that
[11:20]when the systems meant to protect us, recreate the abuse cycle, the betrayal that occurs can be just as damaging as the original trauma. >> This happens when survivors of these
[11:32]crimes are not believed when our well-being is not weighed as heavily as those who have more resources or more privilege. And when perpetrators of these crimes are given a platform rather
[11:44]than the survivors of them. For so many years, it felt like Epstein's criminal behavior was an open secret. Not only did many others
[11:54]participate in the abuse, it is clear that many were aware of his interest in girls and very young women and chose to look the other way because it benefited
[12:03]them to do so. They wanted access to his circle and his money. Their choice to align with his power left those of us who had been harmed by this man and his
[12:15]associates feeling very isolated. I could never have imagined being here today and this chorus of support that we have all received.
[12:26]I have been sent so many notes and messages from people with no direct connection to this case who've expressed their solidarity with us. And I believe
[12:36]that is because in part as Anushka so explained so well this is a extremely widespread issue of child sexual abuse of sexual exploitation of sexual violence. This affects almost every
[12:47]family in some way. From my conversations with women in these last few days and from all of the support that we've received is very
[12:59]clear to me that we are not going away. We are not going to be quiet and we are not going to give up. And I ask the American public to stand with us and not
[13:08]give up. At a time with record high levels of distrust in our institutions and a perception that there are two Americas, one for those with power and privilege and one for everyone else,
[13:19]passing this Epstein transparency bill is one important step that can be taken to prove to Americans that the government does not side with sexual perpetrators. A thorough public review of this
[13:31]information is an important step in presenting in preventing the type of systemic failures that have occurred in this case and harmed all of us. An important step towards healing for those
[13:43]involved. Thank you. Hello everyone. I'd like to say thank you everyone for being here today on
[13:54]this very powerful and special day for all of us here. My name is Marina Lerta. I was minor
[14:04]victim one in federal indictment of Jeffrey Epstein in New York in 2019. I was one of dozen of girls that I personally know who were forced into
[14:13]Jeffrey's mansion on 9 East 71 Street in New York City when we were just kids. Today is the first time that I ever speak publicly about what happened to
[14:24]me. I never thought that I would find myself here. The only reason that I am here is because it feels like the people who matter in this country finally care
[14:34]about what we have to say. As an immigrant from Brazil, I feel empowered knowing that the little girl struggling to get by at 14 and 15 years old finally
[14:44]has a voice. For the first time, I feel like I matter as an American. I was only 14 years old when I met Jeffrey. It was the summer of high school. I was working
[14:56]three jobs to try to support my mom and my sister when a friend of mine in the neighborhood told me that I could make $300 to give an older guy a massage.
[15:07]It went from a dream job to the worst nightmare. Jeffrey assistant Leslie Grath would call me and tell me that I needed to be
[15:17]at the house so often that I ended up dropping out of high school before 9th grade. And I never went back. From 14 to 17 years old, I went and worked for
[15:28]Jeffrey instead of receiving an education. Every day I hoped that he would offer me a real job as one of his assistant or something something
[15:39]important. I would finally have made it big. As like we say, the American dream.
[15:47]That day never came. I had no way. I had no way out. I was um until he finally told me that I was too old. There are many pieces of my story that I
[15:59]can't remember. No matter how hard I try, the constant state of wonder causes me so much fear and so much confusion. My therapist says that my brain is just
[16:09]trying to protect itself. But it's so hard to begin to heal knowing that there are people out there who know more about
[16:17]my abuse than I do. The worst part is that the government is still in possession right now of the documents and information about
[16:35]that con that could help me remember and get over all of this maybe and help me heal. They have documents with my name on them that were confiscated from Jeffrey
[16:45]Epstein's house and could help me put the pieces of my own life back together, but I don't have any of it. And I know the same is true for many of these
[16:55]women. Um, we are here to support this bill today, not only for transparency,
[17:07]but for the American people. But but if the government is going to release these documents to the public describing
[17:17]the crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein and others, the least that they can do is give me my documents that they have about me. The other survivors deserve
[17:27]the same respect from our government. While our identifying information must be redacted to the public, it is equally important to provide the victims
[17:37]themselves with unredacted information. I will never forget when the FBI agents showed up in my door in 2008. Jeffrey Epste hired a lawyer to
[17:48]represent me, or more like to represent him, I'd like to say. I couldn't ask any questions and I had no idea what was going on. I was terrified
[17:59]until today. I think most of us are still terrified. I thought somebody was going to kill me. I thought something was going to happen to my sister or my mother. It went
[18:10]further out to even maybe thinking something would happen in Brazil with my family. And then one day, the lawyer said that everything was just going to go away.
[18:22]like nothing happened. I didn't need to testify. When I asked him why, he gave no explanation. That was it. So why why was I never
[18:33]called to testify then? We could have saved so many women. We could have saved so many lives from being abused.
[18:43]Why did he get away with it in 2008? Why was he able to go on in the abuse with hundreds of girls after the Florida investigation?
[18:54]Why didn't they let me testify to help stop him? Our government couldn't have saved could have saved so many women, but Jeffrey Epstein was too important
[19:03]and those women didn't matter. Why? Well, we matter now. We are here today and we are speaking and we are not going
[19:13]to stop speaking. Today I stand here with the women who have really helped me to find the
[19:25]strength to come out and come forward to share my story for the very first time. Together we are stronger than ever.
[19:33]While she may not be with us, Virginia Roberts, we will continue to use our voices to strengthen yours always. Thank you.
[19:45][Applause] Good morning to you. I'm Mugo Diguay. So, thank you for joining us because right now you're listening to survivors
[19:57]of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. They are speaking on Capitol Hill along with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. And those victims, they're adding their voices to the growing calls to release
[20:08]more files in the case. You can see right there, they're talking and asking for transparency. Okay. So, let's listen back into what others have to say right
[20:15]now. A moment of silence, please. >> Thank you. My name is Courtney Wild. I
[20:26]was only 14 years old when I was introduced to Jeffrey Epstein by a 13-year-old friend of mine. The details of the abuse that he inflicted on me for
[20:35]years is not important today. In 2028, I was cooperating with the federal government government and the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein. They sent me a letter telling me to be
[20:46]patient because this was going to be a lengthy investigation, but at the same time, they refused to talk to me and tell me what was going on. So, I hired
[20:56]an attorney, Brad Edwards, because I was hopeful to get some answers. When I walked into his office at 19 years old, Brad sued the government for refusing to tell me what was going on
[21:07]under the Crime Victim's Rights Act. The only reason anyone ever found out that the government had already given Jeffrey Epstein immunity through the nonprosecution agreement was because our
[21:18]lawsuit forced the government to tell us. Otherwise, nobody would even know that today. Sometimes it's hard to believe that I had to sue the United
[21:29]States just to learn that my abuser was given immunity. I started as Jane Doe, but I decided to I was proud enough to take on our
[21:38]country and I was on the right side of history. We fought the government for 10 years to prove that the government violated our rights as crime victims and the crime victim's rights in order to
[21:50]protect a pedophile. We had to win the 11th circuit court appeals to force the government to turn over thousands of pages of emails between Jeffrey Epstein
[22:00]and the government. Those emails provided the proof of proof that the government worked very hard with Jeffrey
[22:07]Epstein to violate our rights. Why? Why did the government work so hard to protect Jeffrey and not so hard to
[22:16]protect me and my other innocent friends? Why was Jeffrey so important to the government? And why was I so insignificant? Why did nobody but our lawyers care
[22:28]before now? It seems people have only started to care because of Twitter and politics. >> But I would like to say this has nothing to do with politics. This is not a blue
[22:39]thing or a red thing. This is an everyone thing. We can all agree on this. The injustice that has happened here. Multiple over and over. Everybody
[22:50]that talks about this just seems to make it worse. We need transparency. It's time for us to see beyond the curtain. Why was Jeffrey Epstein so
[23:01]protected? Who is still being protected? And who protected them all? So the world can understand how Jeffrey was able to abuse so many of us for so long. I was
[23:12]lucky to have Brad Edwards, Britney Henderson, and Paul Cassell take on my case proono and fight fearlessly over 20
[23:21]years time. Uh, I would like to thank them and I'd also like to ask the Trump administration to please sign off on uh the Crime Victim's Rights Reformed Act,
[23:32]the Courtney Wild Crime Victim's Rights Reformed Act that's um we're trying to get passed here so we can close the loopholes in the CV case that Epstein's
[23:42]attorney uh used to their benefit to get to get away with this. Thank you so much. [Applause]
[24:08]Good morning. Uh, first and foremost, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to Brad and Britney Edwards, Congressman Massie and Connor,
[24:20]and above all, the brave survivors who have entrusted us with the privilege of speaking today on behalf of Virginia, Robert Duay
[24:29]as her family. We are here today because we support H.R.E.S. 581, the Epstein Files Transparency Act,
[24:39]in its entirety. But as much as this bill is about shining a light on truth, it's not just about the bill. This is about justice.
[24:50]This is about survivors. This is about justice against the rich and powerful who have stolen something from these women and many children at the time. Their freedom.
[25:01]the freedom to live their life without mental and physical scars that have been inflicted upon them by those who thought they were untouchable. The same freedom that these monsters
[25:11]took from these survivors, they should never be afforded. They should never be allowed to continue their lives with impunity.
[25:21]Let's be clear, this is not a political issue. This is not about left or right. This is about humanity. This is about doing what's right. And
[25:31]this is about ensuring that the future we leave behind isn't one where the powerful can hide behind their wealth, their influence, and their money to evade justice. Our plea to you, whether
[25:43]you're a dad, a mom, a brother, or a sister, look your young ones in the face. Look them in the eye and tell them you didn't stand against
[25:55]the very people who raped, molested, and prayed upon children and young women. Tell them you were willing to negotiate a deal.
[26:05]Money should never be what makes something right or wrong. If you vote no, your stance will be clear. You will be choosing to stand on the side of the rich and powerful, allowing money to buy
[26:17]your way out of the consequence. But here's my one ask. Look these survivors in the eye and tell them why. Then look the people of the United
[26:27]States in the eye and tell them why. And then when you're alone, look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself why.
[26:36]Virginia said it best, and I quote, "I have physical and mental scars that will never heal. I have memories that will never go away. They say time can heal,
[26:48]but this won't. Not until the justice system makes an example out of these people with so-called privileges. I just call it money. The only time I can begin to heal is
[26:58]when their freedom is taken from them, just like they did to me and literally thousands of other victims. The survivors of this horrific abuse are watching. The American people are
[27:10]watching. And history is watching. Which side will you be on? Thank you.
[27:17][Applause] >> Hello,
[27:28]my name is Jenna Lisa Jones and I was only 14 years old when my friend brought me over to Jeffrey Epstein's house in Palm Beach in 2003.
[27:39]I had a terrible home life, but I was such an innocent kid then. I always did my best in school and I had such a positive outlook on life. Until
[27:51]that day that I met Jeffrey, I have never been more scared in my life than I was that first time that he hurt me. I remember crying the entire way home
[28:01]thinking about how I couldn't ever tell anyone about what actually happened in that house. This guy was so rich and had so many pictures with so many famous people and
[28:13]no one would have ever believed me if I told them. I want to thank Congressman Row and Congressman Thomas Massie for having me here today. It was really hard for me to
[28:24]find my voice and to become strong enough to speak about my abuse. I didn't come forward until
[28:33]2019. And even when and even then it was like I was afraid of a ghost.
[28:43]I know that I was just a little kid, but sometimes I still feel like it is my fault that this happened. Being given the opportunity to speak at the United States Capital Building about something
[28:53]that is so important not just to me and the women before you, but to the entire country. Together, we can finally make a change.
[29:05]And that is thanks to the people like these two congressmen and their teams who actually care about the victims. If you are a member of Congress and you are listening to all of us speak here today,
[29:17]please really listen to us. Please vote for this bill to be passed. Please recognize how important it is for transparency relating to Jeffrey
[29:26]Epstein. Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, this does not matter. This is not about sides. You are an American and you are a person who has chosen to
[29:37]serve in an elected position to stand up for those you represent who cannot always stand up for themselves. We are those people. We are the Americans that
[29:47]you promised to protect and you and we need your help. Please, President Trump, pass this bill and help us. Make us feel
[29:58]like our voices are finally being heard. >> Thank you. >> I just wanted to
[30:19]Good afternoon. My name is Haley Robson. I was a 16-year-old high school student athlete who made good grades and had high aspirations for college when I was
[30:30]recruited and asked by a classmate of mine alongside with a 20-year-old male if I wanted to give an old rich guy a massage. But what high school girl would not want to do that? That day changed my life
[30:41]forever. And when I got into the massage room, Jeffrey Epstein, undressed, and asked me to do things
[30:52]to him. My eyes welled up with tears, and I have never been more scared in my life. When it was over, he made he paid me $200 and requested in exchange that I
[31:02]bring a girl each time to make another $200. I told him I did not want to do that. And then he gave me an ultimatum. Either you come here and massage me when I call you or you bring me friends of yours to
[31:14]massage and I will give you 200 per girl for each time she comes. I felt and hoped to never hear from him again, but he called me every day. He was so wealthy and powerful and he would not
[31:24]let me go. I felt I had no choice. If I disobeyed him, I knew something bad would happen. So, knowing I did not want to be sexually abused, I'm sorry.
[31:35]I started to bring him other girls from my high school and he paid me $200. $200 for bringing them. I just hoped each time it would be the last time. One day,
[31:46]the stepmom of one of the girls brought him and called the police on Jeffrey Epstein. The police then called me called me in for questioning. I had told them the truth despite the fact that I
[31:56]was a teenager and a minor and I was able to tell the police the names of all the other victims. The police treated me like a criminal. I had by this time had
[32:06]turned 18. I had been with Jeffree since I was 16 and for two years. So they had told me I distribute I distributed to the So they told me I
[32:17]was going to be arrested. My name was then distributed to the press as a co-conspirator of my abuser who I detested. My entire world was crashing in around me and I started being
[32:27]threatened and bullied till this day still receiving death threats. I was singled out and for many years had to suffer a smear campaign of lies about me because of the way that I was
[32:38]portrayed by the press. The press made me out to be a predator when I was just a 16-year-old little girl who was sexually abused by a
[32:49]powerful man and an evil man. For years, I had no friends. My boyfriend was murdered and there was nowhere to turn. The government after investigating more
[32:59]learned that I was true a victim, but the damage was done and it was too late. There was no way to undo the harm the press had caused me. In 2019, I met Brad
[33:09]and Britney. I met Brad Edwards and Britney Henderson. They changed my life and they believed in me and have helped me to finally
[33:19]heal. Healing is a process and I may never get there. But the passage of this bill requiring the government to produce all the evidence that it has gathered on Jeffrey
[33:29]Epste and Gain Maxwell is a huge component of healing for me and for the many other women who have suffered for so long. For many reasons. First, we and
[33:40]the rest of the world need answers. Why was he so protected? And why didn't anyone ever care to stop him? It doesn't take a brain surgeon to know that if he is spending thousands of
[33:51]dollars a day paying high school girls he abuses and other access to and had a lot of access to cash. I learned through my attorneys and the JPM uh JP Morgan
[34:01]class action case that there were years when his staff withdrew over a million dollar in cash a year.
[34:10]Was that not a big enough red flag? There were riot transfers to other victims and the government and the government did not protect us. The banks did not protect us. So lift the curtain
[34:22]on these files and be transparent. Every single time a new conspiracy gets circulated in the media, whether he is still alive, what powerful person had
[34:34]him murdered, who was on the Epstein client list, and there are names going around on Tik Tok and Instagram. We the survivors are suffering severely.
[34:44]We take our kids to school and everyone is talking about it. We can't read the news or do anything without hearing crazy stories that are a only able to live on because the government continues to hide the evidence and the truth. So
[34:56]people just make up stories. Those stories hurt. They hurt real people. Real people who have already been hurt. And we have lost so many Epstein victims to suicide. And maintaining the real
[35:06]truth and secrecy only allows for conspiracy theorists to tell lies that drives up our anxiety and fears and will continue to lead to more pain, more
[35:16]suffering, and honestly more deaths of innocent victims. It's time you do is right by us. Unseal all the documents. We are requesting transparency and I am
[35:28]requesting every congressman and women that goes against this bill be outed. I want to know. Thank you.
[35:37][Applause] >> Tear into the press and tear into
[35:47]Congress. >> Hi there. My name is Lisa Phillips and I'm the host of award nominated podcast called From Now On, a platform
[35:58]supporting survivors. I want to thank all of my survivor sisters who came before me today. I'll be very short. In the year 2000, I was taken to Jeffrey
[36:09]Epstein's island while on a photo shoot on a nearby island. Who I saw and what I experienced there was a was a glimpse into a very dark and
[36:20]disturbing world. For years after, I tried to avoid Jeffrey, but he had introduced me to Katie Ford, the owner of the Ford Modeling Agency.
[36:31]Epstein's reach went to the very top of fashion, arts, and entertainment. This did not just happen to underage girls in Florida. In New York City, hundreds of young, ambitious women were
[36:43]abused by him. Epstein was not just a serial predator. He was an international human trafficker. And many around him knew, many participated,
[36:54]and many profited. And yet he was protected. So I stand here today for every woman who has been silenced, exploited, and
[37:04]dismissed. We are not asking for pity. We are here demanding accountability. And I'm demanding justice.
[37:14]Congress must choose. Will you continue to protect predators or will you finally protect survivors? And also I would like to announce here today
[37:26]us Epstein survivors have been discussing creating our own list. We know the names. Many of us were abused by them. Now together as survivors, we
[37:36]will confidentially compile the names we all know who regularly in who are regularly in the epste world and it will be done by
[37:47]survivors and for survivors. No one else is involved. Stay tuned for more details. Hello, my name is Shante Davies and I'm
[38:11]here before you today as a survivor, a survivor of decades of pain, bet trauma, and betrayal at the hands of Gilen Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein and the people who enabled them and a government
[38:22]that for far too long refused to help. In 2002, I was living in California. A young woman with high aspirations of becoming an actress. I was already beginning to make a name for myself in
[38:32]the industry. A person I trusted, someone I thought was a friend, invited me to meet a powerful woman who could help advance my career. That woman happened to be Gilean Maxwell. I was
[38:43]asked to give her a massage, though I had almost no experience. And when I did, she praised me and promised introductions to someone enormously powerful, someone who could change the course of my life. And that man was
[38:53]Jeffrey Epstein. At first, I was an excited young woman on top of the world. Epstein flew me to his private island. He listened to my dreams, promised to help. But his
[39:03]promises came with a catch. The abuse began. He told me to keep it secret. He manipulated me with with quidd proquo. I did not consent to, but I felt I had no
[39:13]one to turn to. He was too powerful. I was just one of the many young women trapped in his orbit. I was even taken on a trip to Africa with former President Bill Clinton and other notable
[39:24]figures. In those moments, I realized how powerless I was. If I spoke out, who would believe me? Who would protect me? Epstein hers himself was the most
[39:34]powerful leader of our country. Epsteed himself, I'm sorry, with the most powerful leaders of our country and the world. He abused not only me but countless others, and everyone seemed to look
[39:45]away. The truth is, Epstein had a free pass. He bragged about his powerful friends, including our current president, Donald Trump. It was his
[39:54]biggest brag, actually. Um, and while I what I endured will haunt me forever, I live every day with PTSD. I live as a
[40:04]mother trying to raise my child while distrusting a world that has betrayed me. This kind of trauma never leaves you. It breaks families apart. It shapes the way we see everyone around us.
[40:15]But one thing is certain. Unless we learn from this history, monsters like Epstein will rise again. There are files, government files that hold the truth about Epstein. Who he knew, who
[40:26]owed him, who protected him, and why he was allowed to operate for so long without consequence? Why was Maxwell the only one held accountable when so many others played a role? Why does the
[40:37]government hide this information from the public? This secrecy is not protection, it's complicity. And as long as the truth is buried, justice will remain out of
[40:48]reach. That is why this bill matters. Passing it will bless you endure ensure that the suffering of survivors is not in vain. Passing it will bring
[40:58]accountability, transparency, and prevention. It will help protect the next generation of predators who seek to place themselves above the law through wealth, influence, and connections.
[41:10]This is not just my story. It is about every survivor who carries invisible scars. It's about the weight we live with daily. It is about the families broken and the futures stolen.
[41:21]So I ask you, President Trump and members of Congress. Why do we continue to cover up sexual abuse and assault? Who are we covering for?
[41:33]Let the public know the truth. We cannot heal without justice. We cannot protect the future if we refuse to confront the past. Thank you. Let's just uh give a round of applause
[41:50]for all the cou courage and strength that the providers have. We now will take uh a few questions. You
[42:00]can always get Congressman Massie, Congresswoman Green in the hallways and other places. If you have questions for us, that's fine. But I wanted to see first if you
[42:11]have questions for uh the lawyers and the survivors and Brad will facilitate any of the questions to the survivors. >> Yes. >> This question would be for the
[42:21]survivors. Mr. President has said that this Epstein issue is a hoax is the word that he used. Can we get your reactions
[42:31]to what you think when you hear him say that? >> I'll answer that. Um, Mr. President Donald J. Trump, I am
[42:42]a registered Republican. Not that that matters because this is not political. However, I cordially invite you to the capital to meet me in person so you can understand this is not a hoax. We are
[42:52]real human beings. This is real trauma. >> What does it feel like emotionally to hear that >> devastating? >> It's being gutted from the inside out. Not that I would know what that feels
[43:03]like, but I imagine it's the anxiety buildup with the depression and the survival mode and then your nervous system goes limp and ironically is shot
[43:14]and it feels like you just want to explode inside because nobody again is understanding that this is a real situation. These women are real. We're here in person. To say that it's a hoax
[43:25]is just not Please humanize us. I I would like Donald J. Trump and every person in America and around the world to humanize us, to see us for who we are, and to
[43:36]hear us for what we have to say. There is no hoax. The abuse was real. Now, what goes on behind closed doors, I can't speak for that. What happens around the world politically, I cannot
[43:47]speak for that. But I am here with all of these women, including our attorneys, and I would be more than happy to meet with him, and I will meet him halfway. >> Mr. M. coverage.
[43:58]>> I wonder if any of the victims could respond to the news from recently about Glain Maxwell being transferred to a lower security prison. >> You want that one
[44:10]>> about her transfer to >> Sure. >> I'm happy to speak to that. Uh we were horrified to learn that she had been
[44:18]transferred to a prison camp. Um, she is someone who was found guilty by a jury of sex trafficking. She not only we
[44:29]often hear that she procured women for Jeffree, which I think is a very sort of polite and minimizing term, she also participated in the abuse. She she was a major architect of the scheme. And the
[44:41]fact that she has painted herself as a victim, I think, is is disgusting. And it was horrifying, I think, to us that we were not told about her prison transfer. We found out about it in the news
[44:52]>> just one minute. I think Anushka maybe has >> So um Anushka de Gorgio um I testified alongside Annie at the trial of Gillan
[45:01]Maxwell. I was horrified when I found out not only had Gilen Maxwell been transferred to what's called a you know a a low
[45:12]security, it's it's really is like a like a holiday camp. And uh and then afterwards I got a notification from the Department of Justice telling me that this was going to happen when it had
[45:24]already happened. This woman abused children. I was abused by Jeffrey Epstein and
[45:44]Gilen Maxwell for over 10 years. Gilen Maxwell was present for some of my abuse at the hand of Jeffrey Epstein. She was present, she was complicit, she was
[45:54]enabling and it is appalling and disgusting and it's one of my worst nightmares that she not only be transferred but at the possibility
[46:04]that's very much going around that she might be pardoned. This is not okay, guys. This is not okay. >> And I just want to add that I think it sends a very dangerous message um to to our country, to the young people in our
[46:15]country, that someone that we all know is aware of these crimes could be given a pass. >> And just for the last, the last survivor who just called people, the last survivor who just spoke, she said that
[46:25]that Epstein would would brag about her relationship with Donald Trump. Uh could she please elaborate about that? >> Can anybody to the microphone here?
[46:34]>> Get close. Uh yeah, I I I did say that. make closing comments.
[46:49]>> My first trip to the Palm Beach residence, um I drove there from the airport with Gilen Maxwell and they Jeffrey and Gilen were always very
[47:00]boastful about their friends, their famous or powerful friends. And his biggest brag forever was that he was very good friends with Donald Trump. He had an 8 by10 framed picture of him on
[47:11]his desk with the two of them. like they were very close. >> Go ahead. >> Excuse me.
[47:22]>> One one second. One second. >> For this client list that you can start putting together, um you said it would be confidential, but will the >> Could you clarify? Will the public get to see the list?
[47:33]>> So, Lisa, what what's your envision here? >> Is it going to go to the public or just amongst the survivors? >> No, we're reaching out to survivors that are scared. >> So, come on up. We're reaching out to survivors that are
[47:43]scared to come forward and that also know who they were trafficked to. So that's the list that we're compiling and we're not quite sure, you know, how we're going to release that or even if we're going to. The Department of
[47:55]Justice needs to release the list. >> For folks at home, they might be confused. You know, survivors know the names. You've seen these powerful people. Why can't you say the names? Could you could you just
[48:06]>> Why do we have to >> Why do we have to say the names when when the government knows the names >> and and we're also scared to do so? Look what's happened to so many of the survivors that have revealed names. >> Yeah. I find
[48:18]I I I think it's also worth saying that having represented I think between our firm and and Boyce Schiller hundreds of victims and we've talked to them about the various people that they were farmed
[48:27]out to. So we've created somewhat of a list. Most of these individuals, the victims are very scared to say these names because they could get sued. They're going to get attacked and nobody
[48:39]protected them the first time and that was against one person. So, is there a list? There is a list. But just to dispel kind of the the common theme here, every one of these women was
[48:49]abused by Jeffrey Epstein and his scheme was to personally abuse women. when they reached a certain age, he did farm a section of them, some of them out to some of his friends. That doesn't mean
[49:01]all of his friends. With that said, I'm more than happy to assist in helping create the list behind the scenes and see what we do with it. >> But if someone's interested, hold on,
[49:12]hold on. I think if someone's interested in prosecuting, they may have something different to say about sharing a list, but they're not sharing a list for nothing to happen. And that's the experience that they've had for all of
[49:21]these years. Thank you. We're waiting to see the fate of this discharge petition right now as we're here. The speaker and others have said that the people he met
[49:31]with yesterday had concerns about your names being released if this bill were passed. And some people I talked to today are not signing the discharge petition because they say you don't want
[49:41]them to. Can you clarify if that is do any of the survivors here not want the bill to pass? F first of all first of all our legislation Ro Connor and I
[49:53]went through this we talked about this and we were very careful to make sure that there is an exception so that personally identifiable information not just their names but anything they could
[50:02]be identified by would not be disclosed >> and can you speak to that as survivors yourself just >> I I think all of them are on the same page that they want everything released >> want the bell
[50:13]>> yes unequivocally redact identally identifying information and release everything else. >> Mr. Edward, thank you. I know it's your
[50:23]first time. I'll go to Marina. >> Yeah, sure. You have stayed silent for so many years today. This is the first time, if we understand correctly, you have never before gone public with your story and to share this. Can you help us
[50:35]understand why today? Why now? And why here? Well, it is not okay for us to be silenced and it's not okay for Jeffrey Epstein and
[50:47]everybody else to be put on a pedestal. I think everybody needs to hear from us because we know what went on, right? And there is not only me who who has been silenced. There are hundreds of women
[50:58]that are silenced. My hope is to stop this abuse for the future, right? For people that are coming up for women. my daughter for example these people have
[51:09]these women have daughters they they most definitely don't want that anymore and um I think mainly it is it is this is therapy for all of us too you know we
[51:21]want to be heard nobody also has never asked me to speak that's also another thing so I can say for all of us here we are here we want this bill to pass it is
[51:32]very important okay and we need transparency we are tired of looking at the news and seeing Jeffrey Epstein's name and saying that this is a hoax. We are tired of it. We are done. We are not
[51:43]going to be silenced. And I hope that my voice will bring other survivors and other victims to come along and speak up so that we can be more of a stronger voice and louder. >> And so what is your message to President
[51:54]Trump on this? >> I listen I don't like to I don't want to send a direct message to him. Uh >> I'm already scared enough.
[52:04]>> Yeah. just just pass the vote. Listen to us. This is not a hoax. >> Like >> it's not going to go away. And like I said on my speech earlier, we are not going to be we're not going to be
[52:15]silenced anymore. We will be speaking moving forward. Wherever we need to be, we will be and we need to pass this. >> Go ahead. >> Thank you, Sarah Jordan.
[52:27]You know, for years we've heard that there was an absolute client list. Now we hear from DOJ that there's no list out all the victims. What do you guys think? I I know you're working on your own list, but you believe that
[52:38]Jeffrey Epste had a list. >> Yeah. So, so there's there's not a list. So, here's what it was. Just like you heard everybody today, Jeffrey Epstein created through an organization that of
[52:49]enablers of people that were on his payroll. It was a complicated scheme where others should still be investigated because they helped to enable him and operate this scheme. without those people, he could not have
[53:00]done this. But the purpose was for him to personally abuse people. With that being said, certain of his friends, he farmed out certain of uh the the women
[53:11]that he was exploiting, too. But that wasn't the primary purpose of that scheme. And I don't think he wrote the names of those people down. There's not a a list of, hey, here's all of the people that I sent females to. That's
[53:23]just not how that organization worked. >> Mr. Edwards agreed. Is there any evidence that Jeffrey Epstein was involved with or tied to the CIA or a foreign intelligence operation? >> I think that the safest thing for me to
[53:33]say is all files should should come out whether it is for the with the CIA, Fininsen, SEC, FBI. Um I'm not just making these up halfhazardly. I'm I'm
[53:44]giving you a road map where to look. >> Go ahead. with the daily ask. The White House has said that this disartile
[53:53]act I I I'll go first and then I'll let them. They're much more important than me, but I don't understand why it's a hostile act. I can tell you that I talked to President Clinton, I'm sorry,
[54:04]President uh Trump back in 2009 and several times after that. He didn't think that it was a hoax then. In fact, he helped me. He got on the phone. He told me things that were helping our investigation. Now, our investigation
[54:15]wasn't looking into him, but he was helping us then. He didn't treat this as a hoax. So, at this point in time, I would hope that he would revert back to what he was saying to get elected, which is I want transparency. This about face
[54:27]that occurred, none of us understand it. In fact, I don't understand how this is a a an issue that's even up for debate. How do you not stand behind these women after you've heard their stories and
[54:39]know that hundreds of them were abused and it was only because files are being kept in secrecy? The world should know who he is, who protected him, and the other people that are out there to be
[54:49]investigated need to be investigated. >> Any are there any people who are currently serving in government who are named who you know of are in these files
[55:00]who you had relations with? anything of that sort who Jeffrey Epste connected you with. Are you willing to say yes or no? I >> I don't think I can answer that. >> Mr. Edwards,
[55:12]>> sorry Robert. >> I think she's referring to my speech.
[55:24]>> Um, hi Anushka Deorgio. I have been threatened. Uh, I was threatened by phone. My daughter was threatened when I was volunteering to participate in uh by
[55:35]means of of being a witness in a civil lawsuit that Virginia Ju was bringing against Gilen Maxwell. Um I have been followed. I have been stalked. I have been followed not only by journalists
[55:47]but by people who do not get out of the car and do not try and talk to me and just drive behind me as I drive my daughter to school. So the fear is very
[55:57]real for us. I have also been in multiple situations with both Jeffrey Epstein and Gilen Maxwell where they have been direct and indirect about
[56:08]implying and saying that if I was to talk if I was to bring any kind of trouble then there would be severe
[56:17]consequence including death. Just to add to that, um, you know, uh, Maxwell also threatened my sister, Maria Farmer. You know, when when the FBI did
[56:29]nothing about her initial report, you know, we did, uh, she reported individually at that time. And then in 2002, we spoke to a reporter at Vanity Fair telling our stories, fearful that perhaps other people were being harmed.
[56:41]You know, we were not, we we believed that was going to make a difference. We believe that would be put in print and that story was crushed and it was because of their power and uh the the
[56:51]message that we got from that was direct threats from Maxwell to my sister about her well-being and her safety and that of our family. So there I think many people have similar stories of threats that has been a very real part of this
[57:03]case. >> Go ahead over here. No,
[57:16]>> no, >> no. >> Nope. >> Do >> you want to address that? >> I I just want to say >> All right. If you are just joining us, we have been listening to survivors of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epston. Those
[57:28]survivors out there on the steps of Capitol Hill calling for more transparency and the release of more files related to the case. We heard from many of those women. Their testimony
[57:38]very emotional. One woman talked about being abused for more than 10 years now. At the same time for our viewers who are watching wondering why there was that sound of planes going on overhead there. A lot of those speakers had to pause to
[57:50]let the planes move by and that is because of a flyover that's related to the police president who's visiting President Trump at the White House today. But we're going to focus right now on those survivors and what they are
[58:02]calling for. I want to bring in CBS News justice correspondent Scott McFarland. Scott, thank you for joining us today. Uh, I I know that files were recently released, documents were recently released released in connection to this
[58:13]case. I'm I'm I'm hearing 33,000 of them. So, a lot of pages to go through in the release of those files. What are you learning so far?
[58:23]>> At that Marathon news conference, you got a sense from this group of survivors, whatever was released last night is not satisfactory. and they are echoing the thoughts of many people who've expressed concern that what was
[58:35]released last night was largely already in the public domain. Roughly 33 34,000 pages and one member of the committee that released these documents said about
[58:44]97% of that is stuff that's already been out there in court files for anybody to look up on their laptop or their phones. the remaining 3% largely flight logs
[58:55]that give very little indication of who was on the plane with Jeffrey Epste when he took off from point A to point B. So you leave last night with a big pile of paper, you begin the morning with very
[59:06]few if any revelations. This group of survivors though um pretty unified for such a large group on their message. They are pushing a piece of legislation. and they're advocating for what's uh
[59:18]being requested in the US House right now, which is the release, the requirement of the release of all files the federal government has on Jeffrey
[59:27]Epstein, the full gamut, pardon me, of what's out there. But also, they're declaratively calling on President Trump to stop calling the Jeffrey Epste matter
[59:39]a hoax, as he referred to it earlier this summer, and to, in one survivor's words, humanize this group. recognize the trauma they're suffering and recognizing they don't feel like they've been given justice.
[59:51]>> And Scott, as you said, some of those 33 or 34,000 plus uh documents that were released, that's information that we already know. So, was this the transparency those survivors are asking
[1:00:02]for? And what else is there in this is there in this investigation that we've yet to uncover? And one estimate that was given by one of the congressmen who spoke, Ro Kana of
[1:00:13]California, was that what was released is roughly 1% of what the federal government may have on Jeffrey Epstein. You saw the front-facing documents from the Department of Justice, the things they filed in court. When the Department
[1:00:24]of Justice or any prosecutor goes to court, they're submitting a fraction of what they have as part of their investigation. These survivors, their attorneys, these members of Congress want all of it put in the public domain,
[1:00:35]making a series of arguments. We just heard over the course of an hour that there hasn't been full transparency. They say that there are clients who've not been brought to justice potentially that these files could help ensure
[1:00:46]justice. But also just the broader issue, these victims don't believe they've been heard. They don't believe they've had quite the forum or the platform to say what happened to them,
[1:00:57]how damaging it is. and they argue that that may be chilling to other sex abuse victims of other people all across the country that they're representing a larger class than just Epstein survivors. But it was noteworthy that
[1:01:09]these two congressmen, the Republican from Kentucky, Tom Massie, the Democrat from California, Ro Kana, have not just formed a bipartisan group trying to get legislation passed, but they have gotten
[1:01:20]these survivors to be surrogates for their cause at a pivotal moment when they're trying to get the support right now, right this week in the US House. >> All right, Scott McFarland, thank you so
[1:01:31]much for your time. We appreciate your analysis.