Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking crimes have returned to the steps of the U.S. Capitol, their voices once again raised in a demand for transparency and justice. This time, they’re not alone: standing beside them are Republican Representative Thomas Massie, Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, and GOP firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene, all united in support of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Their plea is simple but urgent—Congress must vote to release the full scope of documents related to Epstein’s notorious crimes.
According to La Voce di New York and The Daily Beast, this renewed push comes in the wake of a series of dramatic events that have only heightened the stakes. Survivors most recently gathered on September 3, 2025, for a press conference meant to amplify their stories and rally support for the bipartisan bill. But as fate—or perhaps politics—would have it, their testimonies were interrupted by the thunderous roar of a military jet flyover. The jet, ordered by former President Donald Trump, drowned out the survivors’ words, leaving their messages hanging in the air, unheard by many who had come to listen.
For survivor Chauntae Davies, the symbolism of that interruption was not lost. She took the opportunity to remind those present—and the nation—of the close ties between Epstein and Trump. "Jeffrey and Ghislaine were always very boastful about their friends, their famous and powerful friends, and his biggest brag, forever, was that he was very good friends with Donald Trump," she stated, as reported by The Daily Beast. Davies went on to describe a portrait of Trump that Epstein reportedly kept on his desk, a constant reminder of their association.
In the days following that disrupted press conference, The Wall Street Journal released yet another bombshell: a birthday card sent by Trump to Epstein, featuring a drawing of a naked female figure. The revelation added fuel to an already raging fire, with renewed calls for Congress to act decisively and release the files that could shed light on the full extent of Epstein’s network and the individuals involved.
But the path to transparency has been anything but straightforward. The bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act, championed by Massie, Khanna, and Greene, has found itself mired in legislative gridlock. A petition to force a vote on the bill is currently deadlocked, with the final signature needed from newly-elected Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva. Yet, her swearing-in has been repeatedly delayed by House Speaker Mike Johnson. On October 3, 2025, Johnson announced that Grijalva would be sworn in "next week," only to later send Congress home for a "district work period," casting doubt on when—or if—the critical vote would move forward.
The survivors and their congressional allies are not taking the delay lightly. While most lawmakers returned to their districts, Reps. Khanna, Massie, and Greene have pledged to remain in Washington, determined to keep the momentum alive. Their persistence, echoed by the survivors’ unyielding courage, highlights just how high the stakes have become in this battle for accountability.
For many survivors, the political wrangling is a bitter pill to swallow. Jena-Lisa Jones, one of Epstein’s victims, shared her own journey through the maze of partisan politics. "Democrats and the media knew about Epstein and his victims for years and did nothing to help them while President Trump was calling for transparency, and is now delivering on it with thousands of pages of documents as part of the ongoing Oversight investigation," said White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson, as quoted by The Daily Beast. Jones herself admitted to voting for Trump, hoping he would be the one to seek justice for Epstein’s victims.
Yet, Trump’s own stance on the matter has been anything but consistent. While he has dismissed the Epstein story as a "hoax"—a claim he has repeated as calls for the files’ release have grown louder—he also signaled during his 2024 presidential campaign that he might be open to releasing the documents. This ambiguity has left both survivors and lawmakers frustrated, wondering if true transparency is even possible when so much remains shrouded in secrecy and political gamesmanship.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act itself has become a rare point of bipartisan agreement in an otherwise divided Congress. The measure, backed by Massie, Khanna, and Greene, seeks to compel the release of thousands of pages of documents related to Epstein’s crimes, associates, and the government’s own investigations. Its passage would mark a significant victory for survivors, who have long argued that the public deserves to know the full truth about who enabled and benefited from Epstein’s years-long criminal enterprise.
But even as some Republicans and Democrats rally together, the bill faces resistance from within both parties. The delay in swearing in Rep. Grijalva has become a flashpoint, with Speaker Johnson’s actions drawing criticism from those who see the move as a deliberate attempt to stall progress. Johnson’s office, for its part, has remained silent, declining to respond to requests for comment from The Daily Beast.
The survivors’ latest press conference, scheduled for October 8, 2025, is expected to draw national attention. Their message is clear: it’s time for Congress to stop the delays and deliver the transparency that so many have demanded for so long. With the support of lawmakers willing to cross party lines, the survivors are determined not to let the issue fade into the background, no matter how many obstacles are thrown in their path.
As the debate over the Epstein files continues, the broader implications are hard to ignore. The case has exposed deep fissures in the American political system, with questions swirling about the influence of power, money, and secrecy at the highest levels. For the survivors, however, the fight remains intensely personal. Their stories—often drowned out, sometimes literally—are a reminder of the real human cost behind the headlines and the urgent need for accountability.
Whether Congress will finally act remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes are not backing down, and with a growing chorus of bipartisan support, their call for justice is growing louder by the day.
