Epstein Accusers Put Pressure On Congress To Release The Files

WASHINGTON — A group of Jeffrey Epstein accusers connected Wednesday told emotional, gut-wrenching stories of intersexual maltreatment astatine nan hands of nan precocious convicted activity offender and his co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, raising unit connected lawmakers to backmost nan merchandise of each of nan files successful nan Justice Department’s years-long Epstein investigation.

One of nan accusers, Marina Lacerda, identified herself arsenic "Minor Victim 1" successful nan national indictment of Jeffrey Epstein successful New York successful 2019. "I was 1 of dozens of girls that I personally cognize who were forced into Jeffrey’s mansion connected 9 East 71st St. successful New York City erstwhile we were conscionable kids," she said. "Today is nan first clip that I ever speak publically astir what happened to me.”

“I was only 14 years aged erstwhile I met Jeffrey," said Lacerda, 1 of respective female Epstein accusers who appeared astatine a news convention connected Capitol Hill.

"It was nan summertime of precocious school. I was moving 3 jobs to effort to support my mom and my sister erstwhile a friend of excavation successful nan vicinity told maine that I could make $300 to springiness different feline a massage," she said, choking up astatine times. "It went from a dream occupation to nan worst nightmare.”

Another Epstein accuser, Annie Farmer, alleged she was 16 when, successful 1996, she was flown to New Mexico to walk a play pinch Epstein and Maxwell and was assaulted. Her sister, Maria, was besides assaulted there, Farmer said, and delicate photos of nan sisters were stolen by Epstein. The incident was reported to authorities, Farmer said.

“I americium now 46 years old; 30 years later, we still do not cognize why that study wasn’t decently investigated, aliases why Epstein and his associates were allowed to harm hundreds, if not thousands, of different girls and young women,” Farmer said.

"Not only did galore others participate successful nan abuse, it is clear that galore were alert of his liking successful girls and very young women and chose to look nan different measurement because it benefited them to do so," Farmer continued. "They wanted entree to his circle and his money. Their prime to align pinch his powerfulness near those of america who had been harmed by this man and his associates emotion very isolated."

The bombshell news convention was organized by Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and comes arsenic nan bipartisan duo push to cod 218 signatures — half of nan members of nan House of Representatives — to unit a ballot to compel nan Justice Department to merchandise each of nan files successful nan Epstein case.

The accusers astatine nan rally said that if Congress isn’t consenting to merchandise each of nan investigative documents pertaining to Epstein, they would compile their ain database of names to clasp those successful Epstein’s orbit accountable. "Together arsenic survivors, we will confidentially compile nan names we each know, who were regularly successful nan Epstein world,” said Lisa Phillips, who said she was brought to Epstein’s island.

“We are nan keys,” added Haley Robson, who alleges she was trafficked by Epstein starting erstwhile she was 16. “We cognize nan games. We cognize nan players.”

As of Wednesday morning, 134 lawmakers had signed onto nan Massie-Khanna discharge petition — 130 Democrats and 4 Republicans: Massie and Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, and Nancy Mace of South Carolina. Both authors of nan measurement person expressed assurance they tin scope their 218 goal; they will request conscionable 2 much Republicans to motion nan petition to unit a vote, if each Democrats subordinate nan effort, which they are expected to do.

But nan Trump White House and Republican legislature leaders are opposed to nan merchandise of each of nan files, saying that doing truthful could inadvertently expose nan identities of victims who don’t want to spell public. The White House framed voting for nan discharge petition arsenic a “hostile act” toward nan Trump administration.

“Helping Thomas Massie and Liberal Democrats pinch their attention-seeking, while nan DOJ is afloat supporting a much broad record merchandise effort from nan Oversight Committee, would beryllium viewed arsenic a very dispute enactment to nan administration,” a White House charismatic said.

Both White House officials and GOP leaders are moving down nan scenes to effort to stave disconnected an soul revolt from rank-and-file Republicans connected nan Epstein matter. One far-right rabble rouser, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., said a White House charismatic called him to spot really he would ballot connected nan Epstein resolution; he replied that he wouldn’t motion nan petition, but would support it if Massie and Khanna cod 218 signatures and bring it to nan floor.

"When they get 218, I'll ballot for it," Norman told NBC News, but he added he wouldn't beryllium portion of nan discharge effort. "What I don't for illustration astir it is it's conscionable a 'hate Trump' bill. The discharge petition is thing much than a 'hate Trump' bill."

Earlier Wednesday, women accusing Epstein and Maxwell of activity trafficking rallied connected Capitol Hill, calling for nan authorities to merchandise of each files related to nan Epstein investigation, make a committedness “to nan truth” without governmental bias and a committedness by Trump not to pardon Maxwell.

Supporters held up signs that publication “Trust nan victims, not nan felon,” successful reference to Maxwell and “Stand Up for Survivors.”

Asked astir a pardon for Maxwell past month, Trump said he hadn’t considered it but defended his correct to assistance them.

Sky Roberts, nan relative of salient Epstein accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who died by termination successful April said connected her behalf. “The justness strategy was not designed to service nan powerful, it was meant to protect nan group — and it’s clip it started doing conscionable that,” he said.

Theresa Helm, who alleges Maxwell groomed her and she was sexually abused by Epstein successful 2002 erstwhile she was 22, said Maxwell belongs successful prison.

“Ghislaine Maxwell, you are nan system, and now you are portion of different system, 1 that you’ve earned done your very ain choices and actions — a situation strategy wherever you merit to unrecorded successful your 20-year sentence,” Helm told nan crowd.