Epstein Survivors Urge Transparency, Justice in Capitol Hill Appearance

Six women who say they were trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein or his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell appeared in Washington, D.C. this week to demand justice and transparency from the federal government. Speaking in a panel discussion hosted by NBC News, the women made an emotional appeal for the release of investigative records tied to Epstein’s extensive network and urged political leaders—including former President Donald Trump—not to interfere in the pursuit of accountability.

The survivors — Jess Michaels, Wendy Avis, Marijke Chartouni, Jena-Lisa Jones, Lisa Phillips, and Liz Stein — stood united in calling for the public release of Epstein-related files and pressed the Justice Department to provide survivors with long-overdue information.

“There’s been a severe miscarriage of justice,” said Michaels, who alleges she was raped by Epstein in 1991 at the age of 22. “No young woman, no teenage girl stood a chance against his manipulation. He was calculating and deliberate. It was psychological warfare.”

Their appearance came just hours before the Republican-led House Oversight Committee released over 33,000 pages of Epstein-related documents. Bipartisan pressure has mounted in recent weeks as members of Congress returned from their August recess, with lawmakers on both sides demanding more aggressive efforts to uncover the full scope of Epstein’s crimes—and the people who may have enabled them.

A System That Looked Away

Many of the women described a culture of silence and complicity that allowed Epstein’s abuse to continue unchecked for decades. Jones, who says she was only 14 when Epstein first abused her, spoke to the many adults who worked around him, questioning their silence.

“There were so many people in those homes, those planes, those islands—staff, assistants, others—who knew what was happening,” she said. “They might not have been directly involved, but they weren’t blind. Why are they still silent? Why is there still no accountability?”

Avis, also 14 at the time of her abuse, said this was her first time speaking publicly. “I’ve stayed quiet for years,” she said. “But we’re not seeing justice. The system doesn’t serve everyone equally. I’m one of those everyday people, and we deserve to be heard.”

Lisa Phillips, who says she was trafficked and assaulted by Epstein after being invited to his private island in the late 1990s, said the survivors are now doing their own work to identify those involved.

“If no one else is going to name names, we will,” Phillips stated. “We’ve been compiling our own lists. This doesn’t end with Epstein or Maxwell.”

Demanding Action from Lawmakers

The panel was joined by relatives of Virginia Roberts Giuffre—one of Epstein’s most high-profile accusers—who died by suicide in April. The group is now pushing Congress and the Justice Department to unseal Epstein’s files, particularly those that may shed light on who financed, facilitated, or participated in his operations.

Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) held a press conference the following day with several of the accusers, demanding immediate transparency from federal officials. They’re leading a bipartisan discharge petition that could force a vote on the House floor to release all Epstein-related documents.

“Sunlight is the best disinfectant,” said Rep. Khanna. “The American people deserve to know the full truth.”

Trump and the “Client List” Debate

When asked by NBC News if they had ever seen or heard of former President Trump engaging in inappropriate conduct in connection to Epstein, the women responded simply: “No.”

While Trump has publicly voiced support in the past for releasing all Epstein documents, he’s recently distanced himself from some in his party who have circulated unsubstantiated conspiracy theories about Epstein’s death or alleged “client lists.” Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for recruiting and trafficking minors for Epstein, has also denied the existence of any such list. In a recently released interview transcript with the Justice Department, she insisted she had not seen illegal behavior by others, including Trump.

Now 63, Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence and has appealed her conviction. She was recently transferred to a minimum-security facility in Texas—a decision that drew backlash from federal prison staff, who criticized the move as overly lenient.

“We Deserve to Be Informed”

Throughout the panel, a consistent theme emerged: survivors feel abandoned by a justice system that has failed to protect them and kept them in the dark.

“We’ve not been protected, and we’ve not been informed,” said Liz Stein. “The DOJ has a responsibility—not just to prosecute, but to communicate with the victims. That still hasn’t happened.”

The women concluded by urging more whistleblowers and witnesses to come forward.

“There is still time for people to do the right thing,” Phillips said. “If officials won’t act, we will. We are not going away.”

As congressional investigations intensify and new documents come to light, survivors remain at the forefront of the fight—refusing to be silenced, and demanding the truth.