[0:00][Music] Please, if we could uh just out of respect for particularly the survivors who are going to speak, if we could uh have some silence and if folks could just please uh come
[0:15]down, you could people could speak when members of Congress are speaking. I just want to make sure that uh the victims and survivors are going to be heard today. I want to begin by thanking
[0:25]Britney Henderson and Brad Edwards for their tireless work in the pursuit of justice. And I want to thank Sarah Dory on my team for working with them. Above
[0:36]all, I want to thank the survivors who are here today whose courage and strength have brought us to this moment. I want to thank my co-lead, Congressman
[0:47]Thomas Massie and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green for standing with survivors here today. Today, as you can see, we're
[0:57]united in restoring trust in government. We're here not as partisans. We're here as patriots. We begin the work of bringing this
[1:08]country together. progressives, independents, moderates, and yes, MAGA supporters to
[1:17]demand truth and justice. A nation that allows rich and powerful men to traffic and abuse young girls
[1:28]without consequence is a nation that has lost its moral and spiritual core. Americans are asking a very simple question.
[1:40]How is it possible that in the richest most powerful country in the world there are corrupt special interest
[1:50]forces both foreign or domestic that are preventing the release that have a strangle hold on our government and are preventing the release of the full
[2:01]Epstein files. There is something that is rotten in Washington. Less than 1% of these files have been released. We are demanding today on the discharge
[2:13]petition that all of the files be released. We know we have 212 Democrats and we have four Republicans, courageous
[2:23]Republicans like Thomas Massie, Nancy Mace, who was so emotional yesterday after talking to the survivors, Congresswoman Boowart, and Congresswoman
[2:34]Marjorie Taylor Green. We need just two more signatures to force the release. So we gather here on the steps of the Capitol to confront these corrupt forces
[2:45]today. We stand with survivors. We stand against big money. We stand to protect America's children. That is really what this is about. I now want to
[2:57]bring up my Republican colleague Thomas Massie. He has shown so much courage, so much leadership. And I saw some people I I say the same thing about Marjorie
[3:08]Taylor Green. She has shown so much courage on this issue. I saw some people when I was coming here calling her names. We've got to stop that. We've got to stop the partisanship on this issue.
[3:19]This is an issue where they both have shown real courage and leadership and I appreciate them joining us today. Congressman Massie, >> I want to thank my colleague Ro Kana for
[3:32]co-leading this effort to bring transparency and justice for these victims. I hope my colleagues are watching this press conference. I want them to think, what if this was your
[3:42]sister? What if this was your daughter? When these survivors speak, the Washington establishment is asking the American public to believe something that is not believable. They're asking
[3:54]you to believe that two individuals created hundreds of victims and they acted alone and that the DOJ has no idea of who else might have been involved.
[4:06]That nobody else did anything that rose to a criminal enterprise. The American people know that's not true. Now, the Speaker of the House just offered a fig leaf to my colleagues. They're going to
[4:18]vote on a non-binding resolution today that does absolutely nothing. I appreciate the efforts of my colleague James Comr who's leading the oversight committee. They may find some
[4:29]information, but they're allowing the DOJ to curate all of the information that the DOJ is giving them. If you've looked at the pages they've released so far, they're
[4:41]heavily redacted. Some pages are entirely redacted. And 97% of this is already in the public domain. So I'm
[4:50]calling on my colleagues, be one of the next two who sponsors this discharge petition. I think it's shameful that this has been called a hoax. Hopefully
[5:02]today we can clear that up. This is not a hoax. This is real. There are real survivors. There are real victims to this criminal enterprise. and the
[5:13]perpetrators are being protected because they're rich and powerful and political donors to the establishment here in Washington DC.
[5:24]So today we're standing with these survivors and we're giving them a voice and I want to close by thanking them. They are brave. I hope they encourage
[5:34]other survivors to come forward and to to tell their stories, not just of Jeffrey Epstein and Maxwell, but anywhere in the country. This is a this
[5:45]is a message that we are sending. This is a litmus test. Can we drain the swamp? Can are there people who are
[5:53]outside of the reach of the law? I don't think there should be. So hopefully today we'll get two more signatures on the discharge petition.
[6:03]That's all we need. And with that, I want to introduce the bravest woman in Congress, Marjorie Taylor Green. I find it interesting that the three
[6:14]Republican co-sponsors are women. These are women standing up for women. And Marjorie was the first to do it. And I think she deserves all of our gratitude for breaking that barrier and leading
[6:26]the way for the other Republicans. Hopefully they can find their spines as well. And with that, I give you Marjorie Taylor Green. >> Yes. [Music] [Applause]
[6:38]>> Good morning. This is my fifth year in Congress and this is the largest press conference that I've seen since I've been here. And this is because this is an issue that matters so much to
[6:48]Americans. This is an issue that doesn't have political boundaries. It's it's an issue that Republicans and Democrats should never fight about. As a matter of
[6:59]fact, it's such an important issue that it should bring us all together. It's grieved me to watch the arguments and debates take place among my colleagues
[7:10]and even the administration. I think this is something that was worth fighting for. You see, the women behind me are going to tell you stories that
[7:20]you've never heard before. These are unimaginable horrors that they've lived with for their entire lives since they were very, very young. But these are
[7:31]also similar stories that many children, teenagers, women, and even men are enduring nightmares right now as we
[7:39]speak. You see, these women have been fighting since the 1990s. I heard one woman tell us yesterday since 1996,
[7:50]and they have carried with them shame. But I want to tell you something, the shame does not fall on these brave, courageous women. The shame falls on
[8:01]every single person that coldly turned a blind eye to their abuse. The shame falls on every single person that
[8:11]enabled it. The shame falls on every single person that took money to continue it. And the shame falls on the people in power over the past several
[8:23]decades that protected the monster Jeffrey Epstein and his cabal that continued a nightmare. Those people
[8:32]deserve the shame. And today we are coming forward and we are going to fight like hell for these women because we have to fight like hell for those that
[8:42]are enduring sexual abuse and are living in a prison of shame. Anyone that is being abused, it is not your fault. You should live with no
[8:54]guilt or fear or shame. All of the fault belongs to the evil people that do these things to the innocent.
[9:04]This is the most important fight we can wage here in Congress is fighting for innocent people that never receive justice. And the women behind me have
[9:14]never received justice. And do you want to know why? It's because Jeffrey Epstein somehow was able to walk among the most rich, powerful people not only
[9:25]in America, but foreign countries. Yesterday I heard countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia and even Israel and other countries.
[9:37]The truth needs to come out and the government holds the truth. The the cases that are sealed hold the truth.
[9:46]Jeffrey Epstein's estate holds the truth. The FBI, the DOJ, and the CIA holds the truth. and the truth we are
[9:57]demanding come out on behalf of these women but also as a strong message to every innocent child, teenager, woman and man that is being held captive in
[10:08]abuse. This should never happen in America and it should never be a political issue that divides us. And I want to thank Ro Connor and Thomas
[10:19]Massie for doing something brave, crossing political boundaries for a very important fight. And I'm honored to join
[10:29]both of them. And I'm honored that Nancy Mace and Lauren Boowbert signed the discharge petition along with myself. And I asked my Republican colleagues not
[10:41]to choose just one path for justice and transparency and accountability, but I asked my Republican colleagues to choose every path for justice and
[10:52]accountability and transparency. And with that, I'd like to bring back Congressman Roana to start this important press conference. Thank you very much.
[11:04]>> Thank you. Thank you. 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
[11:15]introduce two people who have been 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
[11:25]wilderness for years. And they are really models of courage. Bradley Edwards and Britney Henderson, who are the attorneys for the victims. Thank you for being here. Uh thank you u
[11:42]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
[11:53]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
[12:05]received far greater protection than any of the victims that he abused for years. We in 2008, Courtney Wild walked into my
[12:15]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
[12:26]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
[12:36]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
[12:47]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
[12:58]civil lawsuits led to her prosecution. We filed lawsuits against Jeffrey Epstein against his estate and against two financial institutions JP Morgan and
[13:09]Deutschbank that proved that they provided knowingly provided the financial infrastructure for a sex trafficking operation. Unfortunately, all of the documents and evidence that
[13:20]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
[13:31]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
[13:40]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
[13:50]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
[14:01]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
[14:12]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
[14:23]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
[14:32]appreciate everybody being here. >> Hi, good morning. My name is Britney Henderson and I think in addition to
[14:44]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 sick maulay and
[14:54]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
[15:05]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.
[15:16]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
[15:27]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
[15:38]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
[15:49]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
[15:59]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
[16:10]transparency. Good morning. My name is Anushka de Giorgio and I stand before you today as a survivor of both Jeffrey Epstein and
[16:21]Gilen Maxwell. I want to thank Congressman Massie and Connor for their role in putting together this very, very important bill.
[16:31]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
[16:40]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
[16:51]courage and sacrifices of Virginia Dufrey, Caroline, Andreano, and others who could not continue. Their
[17:03]voices mattered. Their stories must not be forgotten. Accountability is what makes a society civilized.
[17:13]Equal opportunity and equal consequence for all. Consequences are not about punishment alone. They exist to deter future harm, to protect vulnerable, and
[17:24]to set a standard of justice. If Gilen Maxwell were pardoned, it would undermine all the sacrifices I made to testify and make mockery of mine and all
[17:36]survivors suffering. That is why the Epstein Files Transparency Act is so essential. It requires the Department of Justice
[17:46]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
[17:57]death. And crucially, it forbids withholding documents simply because of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity. This is about
[18:06]ending secrecy wherever abuse of power takes root. But transparency alone is not enough. Survivors need protection, resources,
[18:16]and legal support. 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
[18:27]confront abusers, to navigate complex systems, and to reclaim their power. Transparency must be matched by support, or else too many victims will remain
[18:37]silent out of fear and lack of access. The statistics demand action. Nearly one in five women in America will experience
[18:47]rape or attempted rape in her lifetime. Every se 74 seconds someone is sexually assaulted.
[18:55]Every 9 minutes that person is a child. These are not numbers. They are people. They are your daughters, your sons, your
[19:05]constituents, your friends. Statistically, one in five of your families will face this nightmare. The days of sweeping this under the rug
[19:16]are over. We, the survivors, say no more. I want to help create a world where survivors of sexual abuse and abuse of
[19:26]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
[19:36]forward have legal support to face their abusers and see justice done. When Judge Burman gave Epstein survivors
[19:46]the chance to finally speak, the world listened. After so many years, survivors were heard. That moment was historic.
[19:55]And so is this moment. For me, the turning point was when I had my daughter and on the
[20:06]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
[20:19]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.
[20:30]But through this wound, I have found purpose, to be part of lasting change in how we confront exploitation and abuse. And to
[20:40]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
[20:51]predators for decades. >> I am no longer weak. >> I am no longer powerless.
[21:01]>> And I'm no longer alone. >> And with your vote, neither will the next generation be. >> President Trump, you have so much
[21:12]influence and power in this situation. Please use that influence and power to help us because we need it now and this
[21:20]country needs it now. Thank you. >> Hello. My name is Annie Farmer and I was 16
[21:35]years old when I was flown to New Mexico to spend a weekend with Epstein and Maxwell. That same year, 1996, my sister, Maria Farmer, reported what
[21:46]happened to me there, along with reporting her own assault at their hands and their theft of sensitive photos of herself, of me, and our younger sister that she had taken for her work as a
[21:58]figurative painter. I am now 46 years old. 30 years later, we still do not know why that report wasn't properly investigated or why Epstein and his
[22:08]associates were allowed to harm hundreds, if not thousands of other girls and young women. We have never been told whether those images were found when they discovered a large
[22:19]amount of child sexual abuse material on his property. As a psychologist, I understand that when the systems meant to protect us, recreate the abuse cycle, the betrayal
[22:31]that occurs can be just as damaging as the original trauma. >> This happens when survivors of these crimes are not believed when our well-being is not weighed as heavily as
[22:42]those who have more resources or more privilege and when perpetrators of these crimes are given a platform rather than the survivors of them. For so many years, it felt like
[22:54]Epstein's criminal behavior was an open secret. Not only did many others participate in the abuse, it is clear that many were aware of his interest in
[23:04]girls and very young women and chose to look the other way because it benefited them to do so. They wanted access to his circle and his money. Their choice to
[23:15]align with his power left those of us who had been harmed by this man and his associates feeling very isolated. I could never have imagined being here
[23:26]today and this chorus of support that we have all received. I have been sent so many notes and messages from people with no direct
[23:37]connection to this case who've expressed their solidarity with us. And I believe that is because in part as Anushka so explained so well this is a extremely widespread issue of child sexual abuse
[23:48]of sexual exploitation of sexual violence. This affects almost every family in some way. From my conversations with women in
[24:00]these last few days and from all of the support that we've received is very 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
[24:11]American public to stand with us and not 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
[24:22]privilege and one for everyone else, 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
[24:33]perpetrators. A thorough public review of this information is an important step in presenting in preventing the type of systemic failures that have occurred in
[24:43]this case and harmed all of us. An important step towards healing for those involved. Thank you. Hello everyone. I'd like to say thank
[24:57]you everyone for being here today on this very powerful and special day for all of us here. My name is Marina Lerta. I was minor
[25:09]victim one in federal indictment of Jeffrey Epste in New York in 2019. I was one of dozen of girls that I personally know who were forced into Jeffrey's
[25:18]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
[25:29]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
[25:39]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
[25:49]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
[26:01]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. It
[26:12]went from a dream job to the worst nightmare. Jeffrey assistant Leslie Grath would call me and tell me that I needed to be at the house so often that
[26:24]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 Jeffrey instead of receiving
[26:35]an education. Every day I hoped that he would offer me a real job as one of his assistant or something something important.
[26:46]I would finally have made it big as like we say the American dream. That day never came. I had no way I had
[26:56]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 can't remember. No matter how hard I
[27:06]try, the constant state of wonder causes me so much fear and so much confusion. My therapist says that my brain is just trying to protect itself. But it's so
[27:17]hard to begin to heal knowing that there are people out there who know more about my abuse than I do. The worst part is that the government is
[27:28]still in possession right now of the documents and information about
[27:40]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
[27:51]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
[28:00]women. Um, we are here to support this bill today, not only for transparency,
[28:12]but for the American people. But but if the government is going to release the documents to the public describing
[28:23]the crimes committed by Jeffrey Epste and others, the least that they can do is give me my documents that they have about me. The other survivors deserve
[28:32]the same respect from our government. While our identifying information must be redacted to the public, it is equally important to provide the victims
[28:42]themselves with unredacted information. I will never forget when the FBI agent showed up in my door in 2008. Jeffrey Epste hired a lawyer to
[28:54]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
[29:04]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
[29:15]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.
[29:27]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
[29:39]called to testify then? We could have saved so many women. We could have saved so many lives from being abused.
[29:48]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?
[29:59]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 Epste was too important and
[30:08]those women didn't matter. Why? Well, we matter now. We are here today and we are speaking and we are not going
[30:19]to stop speaking. Today I stand here with the women who have really helped me to find the
[30:30]strength to come out and come forward to share my story for the very first time. Together we are stronger than ever.
[30:39]While she may not be with us, Virginia Roberts, we will continue to use our voices to strengthen yours always. Thank you.
[30:50][Applause] Hi, my name is Courtney Wild. I just
[31:02]wanted to take a second and just have a moment of silence for all the women survivors that aren't here with us today that passed away due to anxiety, depression, trying to keep up with this
[31:14]case. A moment of silence, please. Thank you. My name is Courtney Wild. I
[31:26]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
[31:35]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
[31:47]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
[31:57]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
[32:07]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
[32:18]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
[32:29]States just to learn that my abuser was given immunity. I started as Jane Doe, but I decided to pr I was proud enough to take on our
[32:38]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
[32:50]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
[33:00]and the government. Those emails provided the proof of proof that the government worked very hard with Jeffrey
[33:07]Epstein to violate our rights. Why? Why did the government work so hard to protect Jeffrey and not so hard to
[33:17]protect me and my other innocent friends? Why was Jeffrey so important to the government? And why was I so insignificant?
[33:27]Why did nobody but our lawyers care before now? It seems people have only started to care because of Twitter and politics. >> But I would like to say this has nothing
[33:37]to do with politics. This is not a blue thing or a red thing. This is an everyone thing. We can all agree on this. The injustice that has happened
[33:47]here. Multiple over and over. Everybody that talks about this just seems to make it worse. We need transparency.
[33:57]It's time for us to see beyond the curtain. Why was Jeffrey Epstein so protected? Who is still being protected? And who protected them all? So the world can understand how Jeffrey was able to
[34:09]abuse so many of us for so long. I was lucky to have Brad Edwards, Britney Henderson, and Paul Cassell take on my
[34:17]case proono and fight fearlessly over 20 years time. Uh, I would like to thank them and I'd also like to ask the Trump
[34:27]administration to please sign off on uh the Crime Victim's Rights Reformed Act, the Courtney Wild Crime Victim's Rights Reformed Act that's um we're trying to
[34:37]get passed here so we can close the loopholes in the CV case that Epstein's attorney uh used to their benefit to get to get away with this. Thank you so
[34:47]much. [Music]
[35:09]Good morning. Uh, first and foremost, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to Brad and Britney Edwards, Congressman Massie and Connor,
[35:20]and above all, the brave survivors who have entrusted us with the privilege of speaking today on behalf of Virginia,
[35:27]Robert Duay as her family. We are here today because we support H.R.E.S.
[35:36]581, the Epstein Files Transparency Act. in its entirety. But as much as this bill is about shining a light on truth, it's not just
[35:46]about the bill. This is about justice. This is about survivors. This is about justice against the rich and powerful who have stolen something
[35:56]from these women and many children at the time. Their freedom. the freedom to live their life without mental and physical scars that have been inflicted upon them by those who thought
[36:07]they were untouchable. The same freedom that these monsters took from these survivors, they should never be afforded. They should never be allowed to continue
[36:17]their lives with impunity. Let's be clear, this is not a political issue. This is not about left or right.
[36:27]This is about humanity. This is about doing what's right. And this is about ensuring that the future we leave behind isn't one where the powerful can hide behind their wealth,
[36:38]their influence, and their money to evade justice. Our plea to you, whether you're a dad, a mom, a brother, or a sister, look your young ones in the
[36:49]face. Look them in the eye and tell them you didn't stand against the very people who raped, molested, and
[36:59]prayed upon children and young women. Tell them you were willing to negotiate a deal. Money should never be what makes something right or wrong. If you vote
[37:10]no, your stance will be clear. You will be choosing to stand on the side of the rich and powerful, allowing money to buy your way out of the consequence.
[37:20]But here's my one ask. Look these survivors in the eye and tell them why. Then look the people of the United States in the eye and tell them why. And
[37:30]then when you're alone, look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself why. Virginia said it best, and I quote, "I have physical and mental scars that will
[37:42]never heal. I have memories that will never go away. They say time can heal, but this won't. Not until the justice system makes an example out of these
[37:52]people with so-called privileges. I just call it money. The only time I can begin to heal is when their freedom is taken from them, just like they did to me and literally
[38:03]thousands of other victims. The survivors of this horrific abuse are watching. The American people are watching. And history is watching. Which
[38:14]side will you be on? Thank you. [Applause] >> Hello,
[38:29]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.
[38:40]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
[38:51]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
[39:01]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
[39:13]no one would have 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
[39:24]find my voice and to become strong enough to speak about my abuse. I didn't come forward until
[39:33]2019. And even when And even then it was like I was afraid of a ghost.
[39:43]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
[39:53]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.
[40:05]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,
[40:17]please really listen to us. Please vote for this bill to be passed. Please recognize how important it is for transparency relating to Jeffrey
[40:26]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
[40:37]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
[40:47]you promised to protect and you and we need your help. Please, President Trump, pass this bill and help us make us feel
[40:58]like our voices are finally being heard. >> Thank you. >> I just wanted to
[41:20]>> 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
[41:30]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
[41:41]forever. And when I got into the massage room, Jeffrey Epstein undressed and asked me to do things
[41:52]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
[42:02]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
[42:14]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
[42:25]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.
[42:35]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,
[42:46]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
[42:56]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
[43:06]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
[43:17]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
[43:27]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
[43:39]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
[43:49]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 in investigating
[43:58]more 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
[44:09]Brad and Britney I met Brad Edwards and Britney Henderson. They changed my life and they believed in me and have helped me to finally
[44:19]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
[44:30]Epstein and Galain 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
[44:40]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
[44:51]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 in the JPM uh JP Morgan
[45:01]class action case that there were years when his staff withdrew over a million dollar in cash a year.
[45:10]Was that not a big enough red flag? There were wire transfers to other victims and the government and the government did not protect us. The banks did not protect us. So lift the curtain
[45:22]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
[45:34]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.
[45:44]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
[45:56]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
[46:07]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
[46:16]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
[46:28]requesting every congressman and women that goes against this bill be outed. I want to know. Thank you.
[46:38][Applause] >> Tear into the press and tear into Congress. Full respect.
[46:50]>> Hi there. My name is Lisa Phillips and I'm the host of award nominated podcast called From Now On, a platform supporting survivors.
[47:01]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 Epstein's island while on a photo shoot
[47:11]on a nearby island. Who I saw and what I experienced there was a was a glimpse into a very dark and
[47:20]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.
[47:31]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,
[47:41]hundreds of young, ambitious women were abused by him. Epstein was not just a serial predator. He was an international human trafficker.
[47:51]And many around him knew, many participated, and many profited. And yet he was protected. So I stand here today for every woman
[48:02]who has been silenced, exploited, and dismissed. We are not asking for pity. We are here demanding accountability.
[48:11]And I'm demanding justice. Congress must choose. Will you continue to protect predators or will you finally protect survivors?
[48:22]And also I would like to announce here today. Us Epstein survivors have been discussing creating our own list. We know the names. Many of us were abused
[48:33]by them. Now together as survivors, we will confidentially compile the names we all know who regularly in who are regularly in
[48:44]the Epstein world. And it will be done by survivors and for survivors. No one else is involved. Stay tuned for more details.