When Congress reconvenes in September 2025, the halls of Capitol Hill will echo with voices that have long been silenced. Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s notorious sex trafficking ring, some speaking publicly for the first time, are set to address the nation alongside their attorneys and the bipartisan duo of Representatives Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) and Ro Khanna (D-California). Their aim: to demand long-overdue transparency from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and push for the release of files that could shed new light on the extent of Epstein’s crimes and the failures of those tasked with investigating them.
The upcoming press conference, scheduled for the morning of September 3—the very day the House returns from its August recess—marks a dramatic escalation in efforts to force the DOJ’s hand. According to advisories from both lawmakers, survivors will finally have the opportunity to share their stories, with attorneys Brad Edwards and Brittany Henderson standing by their side. As reported by Deseret News and Nexstar Media, this event is the latest salvo in a heated battle over access to investigative materials tied to Epstein and his convicted co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, left behind a trail of unanswered questions and a legacy of pain. For years, survivors and advocates have called for transparency, only to be met with bureaucratic stonewalling and shifting political winds. In July, Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi stoked controversy by declaring that a much-speculated "client list" did not exist and that the DOJ would not release further information—contradicting earlier suggestions that such records might be made public.
The push for disclosure has transcended party lines. Massie and Khanna, representing opposite sides of the aisle, are working hand in hand to introduce a discharge petition—a rare procedural maneuver that would allow them to circumvent House leadership and force a vote on releasing the Epstein files. To succeed, they’ll need 218 signatures, a majority of the House. "The survivors deserve justice and Americans deserve transparency," Massie declared in a recent post on X, echoing the bipartisan frustration with the DOJ’s lack of openness.
But the path to transparency is littered with obstacles. On August 11, U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer denied the DOJ’s request to unseal grand jury materials used to charge Maxwell, dealing a blow to those hoping for a full accounting of the case. Meanwhile, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer (R-Kentucky), has launched its own investigation. Comer’s panel has issued subpoenas to a who’s who of former government officials—including former Attorneys General Bill Barr, Alberto Gonzales, and Jeff Sessions, as well as former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The DOJ is under orders to provide Epstein-related documents to the committee by August 19, with high-profile testimonies scheduled throughout the fall.
For survivors, the government’s handling of the case has been anything but reassuring. Annie Farmer, one of the few victims to testify publicly against Epstein and Maxwell, recently spoke with Boise State Public Radio about the emotional toll of the ongoing saga. "It has been a pretty exhausting few weeks, I'd say, as this has all come back up again," she explained. Farmer described the experience as "challenging anytime you are confronted over and over again with these images of individuals that have harmed you. But also just to feel so out of control as the story has evolved in these unexpected ways, and we are not being—it feels like we're not being considered and we're not being included."
Farmer’s frustration runs deep. Despite reaching out to prosecutors and even sending a letter to Deputy Attorney General Blanche, she has received no response. "No, not at all. I've reached out and spoken with one of the prosecutors, the one remaining prosecutor, SDNY, who was responsible for the, you know, guilty verdict for Ghislaine Maxwell. And it was clear to me that they were not even being involved in this process," she told NPR. Her concerns are echoed by other survivors, who worry that Ghislaine Maxwell—currently serving a 20-year sentence—could receive preferential treatment in exchange for information, a prospect Farmer finds deeply troubling.
"To have her be a part of this process and potentially trade information for a lesser sentence feels very wrong, not just for those of us directly involved in the trial, but for so many of the women that she harmed. That sends a very damaging message to our country," Farmer said. She emphasized Maxwell’s direct involvement in the abuse, adding, "She is not being blamed for someone else's crimes. She is serving a sentence for her own crimes, and I just want to make sure people remember that and understand that."
The political backdrop is as volatile as ever. Former President Donald Trump, once a vocal proponent of releasing the files, has since reversed course. In a blistering online post, he attacked Massie as "the worst Republican Congressman" and called for a primary challenger. House Speaker Mike Johnson has taken a more cautious approach, urging patience and insisting the White House be given space to process the materials. According to Spectrum News 1, Massie remains undeterred: "The president himself elevated the concern about the Epstein files. His vice president, his children, his attorney general all said that they needed to be released, and that they were going to get released. And then the president did a 180. And our Speaker has followed suit. And I think the American people deserve transparency. So that’s why I’m forcing this vote."
The DOJ and FBI have further muddied the waters with a joint memo released last month, concluding that Epstein committed suicide and did not keep a client list. This finding, which contradicts earlier Trump administration statements, has fueled bipartisan skepticism and renewed demands for independent oversight.
As the September press conference looms, the stakes could hardly be higher. Survivors, lawmakers, and the public are united—at least for now—in their demand for answers. Yet the machinery of government grinds slowly, and the outcome of the discharge petition remains uncertain. Even if Massie and Khanna secure the necessary signatures, House GOP leaders could attempt to block the vote, leaving the fate of the Epstein files in limbo.
Still, for survivors like Annie Farmer, the fight for transparency is about more than politics. "Just remembering that there are real individuals involved. These are their individual, very challenging experiences at the heart of this case, and that's had tremendous repercussions for people's lives," she reflected. "This is really about the abuse of power and about, you know, protecting young people and making sure that people are held accountable when they commit these types of crimes."
As Congress prepares to return, all eyes will be on Capitol Hill—waiting to see whether promises of transparency will finally translate into action, or if the secrets of one of America’s most infamous scandals will remain locked away a little longer.
