Tears, frustration and determination filled the air at the U.S.Capitol Hill this past week, when the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking ring gathered to demand justice and take the only thing the government has left to give to them, proof. Proof, as if their existence isn’t the greatest proof of all. As if their trauma doesn’t speak for themselves. All they had was their refusal to be silenced and a bipartisan group of lawmakers that pushed for the release of all Epstein related documents the government had sealed. They held a rally and press conference at the steps of the Capitol, filled with raw survivor testimonies, pushing for full transparency. Without full disclosure, the network will keep webbing and expanding, and will never truly be brought out in the sunlight.
For the first time, survivors came forward and spoke their truth. Their truth about how they were tricked and forced into horrendous experiences and threatened to silence. People chose to look another way to Epstein’s crimes, because it benefited them. Police and FBI reports were abandoned and many people involved were never held accountable. Their demands will highlight every crack in the system, every evil involved, thinking they evaded the consequences of their crimes, and open the eyes of people to the truths about the world. Survivors of Epstein’s abuse, lawyers and representatives, Democrats and Republicans, all called for Congress to release those files.
Epstein, while facing a trial on sex trafficking charges, was confirmed dead in federal custody back in 2019 and it was deemed a suicide. The FBI review confirmed over 1000 sexual assault victims of Epstein, many of them underage. The victims that stood in front of the Capitol, represented all those people who could not for themselves. They stood up against the systematic oppression for sexual assault victims everywhere.
Frustrated with the lack of cooperation from the government Lisa Phillips, an Epstein survivor, said, “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 by them,” Phillips said.
Their impact has been profound. It has created a pressure on government officials to take action as well as the perpetrators of sex trafficking involved with Epstein and in general. Them speaking out has brought a change to the system that will bring heat to all sexual abusers. This has become an example for the future and is a clear reminder that the truth will come out. While causing tremors in the government, the survivors speaking out has impacted our local community as well.
Anna Kim, a Niles North student, was asked if this was a big win for the victims, especially ones afraid of speaking out, she said, “Yes, because they’re finally getting some justice,” Kim said.“They are taking back their voice at a public level and changing systems that enabled Epstein.”
Their impact was so loud they got a response from the White House. President Donald J. Trump said, “This is a Democrat hoax that never ends,” Trump said.
He also regarded the files as “irrelevant” while complaints arise of his administration making false promises to investigate the case further. President Trump is also under fire recently as The House Oversight Committee released records that contained hundreds of pages of a book that Ghislaine Maxwell, another convict from Epstein’s inner circle, compiled for him back in 2003. The book allegedly contained a suggestive birthday wish from the President. He denied his relation to it. This led many to connect to the true reason for his lethargy to release the files. Could they be incriminating him as well?
The victims of Jeffrey Epstein have lit fire under the pot filled with sexual abuse enablers and benefiters. No matter how powerful and well connected, they will be eventually held accountable.
