On September 3, 2025, the grounds outside the U.S. Capitol transformed into a powerful stage for survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse. With the late summer sun beating down, women and their supporters gathered to demand what, for years, has seemed out of reach: full transparency about Epstein’s sprawling criminal enterprise and the release of all investigative files tied to his case. Their rally, emotional and urgent, drew an unusually large crowd and set the tone for a week of mounting political pressure in Washington.
The event was led by survivors who, for decades, have fought for acknowledgment and justice. Stories shared were harrowing—some recounted being lured by promises of money and opportunity as young as 14, only to be manipulated and assaulted by Epstein and his convicted co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell. Family members of the late Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a prominent survivor who tragically died by suicide earlier this year, stood in solidarity, underscoring the enduring toll of Epstein’s crimes.
According to Oklahoma Voice, Annie Farmer, who was just 16 in 1995 when she and her sister were flown to New Mexico for a weekend with Epstein and Maxwell, described being assaulted and photographed. "I am now 46 years old. Thirty years later, we still do not know why that report wasn’t properly investigated, or why Epstein and his associates were allowed to harm hundreds, if not thousands, of other girls and young women," Farmer told the crowd. She continued, "We have never been told whether those images were found when they discovered a large amount of child sexual abuse material on his property."
Lisa Phillips, another survivor, issued a direct challenge to lawmakers: "Congress must choose — will you continue to protect predators, or will you finally protect survivors?" Her words echoed through the crowd, capturing the frustration and hope that have defined the survivors’ fight for justice.
Marina Lacerda, speaking with raw honesty, addressed the Justice Department: "I never thought I would find myself here. The only reason I am here is because it feels like the people who matter in this country finally care about what we have to say." Her plea, reported by States Newsroom, highlighted a shift in public and political willingness to listen—at least for the moment.
Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, herself a survivor, emerged from a private session with fellow lawmakers and Epstein accusers visibly shaken, tears in her eyes. The gravity of the survivors’ stories—of trauma, betrayal, and relentless pursuit of closure—left a palpable mark on those in attendance. As Oklahoma Voice noted, Mace joined Republican Reps. Thomas Massie and Lauren Boebert, as well as Democrat Ro Khanna, in pushing a bipartisan discharge petition aimed at forcing the release of the full Epstein case files. The petition, as of September 3, needed just two more Republican signatures to bypass House leadership and bring the matter to a vote.
Massie, standing at the rally, didn’t mince words: "There are real victims to this criminal enterprise, and the perpetrators are being protected because they’re rich and powerful and political donors to the establishment here in Washington, D.C. So today, we’re standing with these survivors." He criticized the House GOP’s leadership for what he called "the oldest trick in the swamp"—urging support for a symbolic committee probe rather than meaningful action.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, for his part, dismissed the need for the discharge petition, pointing to an ongoing GOP-led committee investigation. According to States Newsroom, Johnson stated, "The Oversight Committee’s investigation is already ongoing. They’re already producing and putting out there the documents that are covered, the White House is in full compliance. The administration is willfully complying with the subpoenas because they want maximum transparency as well." Johnson went so far as to claim, in remarks reported by NBC News, that President Trump had acted as an FBI informant in the Epstein case—a statement that added yet another layer of intrigue and controversy to the proceedings.
Yet, the committee’s recent release of approximately 33,000 pages of documents was widely criticized. Many pages were heavily redacted, duplicated, or already available to the public. Massie remarked, "If you’ve looked at the pages they’ve released so far, they’re heavily redacted. Some pages are entirely redacted, and 97% of this is already in the public domain." For survivors and advocates, this gesture felt like little more than political theater.
The political divide on the issue is not as clear-cut as one might expect. While House Democratic leaders and most Democrats back the discharge petition, several Republicans have broken ranks to join them, reflecting a rare moment of bipartisan unity driven by public outrage and survivor advocacy. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican, called the fight for transparency "the most important fight we can wage here in Congress, fighting for innocent people that never received justice." She added, "And do you want to know why? It’s because Jeffrey Epstein somehow was able to walk among the most rich, powerful people."
Jena-Lisa Jones, abused by Epstein at 14, made a heartfelt appeal: "If you’re a member of Congress and you’re listening to all of us speak here today, please really listen to us. Please vote for this bill to be passed. Please recognize how important it is for transparency relating to Jeffrey Epstein. Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, this does not matter." She also directly called on President Trump: "Please, President Trump, pass this bill and help us. Make us feel like our voices are finally being heard."
President Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly downplayed the call for transparency, dismissing questions about the release of the Epstein files as a "Democrat hoax that never ends." In a meeting with Poland’s President, Trump said, "What they’re trying to do with the Epstein hoax is getting people to talk about that instead of speaking about the tremendous success like ending seven wars. I ended seven wars, nobody’s going to talk about (that) because they’re going to talk about the Epstein whatever." Trump also asserted that his administration had complied with subpoenas, claiming, "I understand that we were subpoenaed to give files, and I understand we’ve given thousands of pages of files, and I know that no matter what you do, it’s going to keep going."
Adding to the pressure, the House Oversight Committee has issued subpoenas to former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and several former Department of Justice officials from both major parties. The committee has also met privately with numerous Epstein victims, signaling that the investigation is far from over—though many remain skeptical about its effectiveness given the heavy redactions and lack of new information.
As the political battle intensifies, survivors and their advocates remain steadfast. "At a time with record-high levels of distrust in our institutions and a perception that there are two Americas—one for those with power and privilege and one for everyone else—passing this Epstein transparency bill is one important step that can be taken to prove to Americans that the government does not side with sexual perpetrators," Annie Farmer declared.
For now, the survivors’ rally has reignited a debate that cuts across party lines and tests the nation’s willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. With the discharge petition just shy of the signatures needed and the committee investigation ongoing, the question remains: will Congress finally choose transparency and justice for survivors, or will the powerful continue to shield the full scope of Epstein’s crimes from public view?
