Epstein's Survivors to Trump "Hoax"? We Demand the Truth!

'This is Not a Hoax': Epstein Survivors Speak Out Demanding Files Be Released

In a powerful and emotional press conference held on Capitol Hill, a group of women who identify as survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse have made a fervent plea for the release of long-withheld Department of Justice records related to the case. Their message was clear and unwavering: this is not a conspiracy, this is a reality, and justice demands transparency.

The survivors, including prominent voices like Marina Lacerda and Anouska De Georgiou, shared harrowing accounts of their experiences, calling on lawmakers to support a bipartisan effort led by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna. The aim is to compel the DOJ to make the Epstein files public.

Survivor Anouska De Georgiou embraces survivor Danielle Bensky as survivor Chauntae Davies looks on during a news conference in Washington.

"This is not a hoax. It's not going to go away," declared Marina Lacerda, a key witness in Epstein's 2019 indictment, highlighting the urgency and gravity of the situation.

Anouska De Georgiou, the first survivor to speak, emphasized the collective strength of the survivors: "The days of sweeping this under the rug are over. We the survivors say 'no more.'"
She directly addressed former President Trump, urging him to use his influence to support their cause, stating, "President Trump, you have so much influence and power in this situation. Please use that influence and power to help us, because we need it now, and this country needs it now."

Haley Robson, victim of financier Jeffrey Epstein, speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill.

The call for transparency comes amid continued skepticism from some quarters. When questioned about the press conference, former President Trump reiterated his stance, dismissing it as an "Epstein hoax" and a "Democrat hoax."

In response, survivor Haley Robson directly addressed Trump, saying, "Mr. President, Donald J. Trump, I am a registered Republican... I cordially invite you to the Capitol to meet me in person so you can understand this is not a hoax. We are real human beings. This is real trauma."

The survivors’ testimonies were punctuated by emotional accounts of the abuse they endured, some beginning when they were as young as 14. Jena-Lisa Jones recounted, "I had never been more scared in my life than I was that first time that he hurt me... I know that I was just a little kid but sometimes I still feel that it was my fault this happened."

Courtney Wild passionately questioned the systemic failures that allowed Epstein to operate for so long: "It's time for us to see behind the curtain. Why was Jeffrey Epstein so protected? Who is still being protected? And who protected them all, so the world can understand how Jeffrey was able to abuse so many of us for so long."

Key details of the bipartisan effort:

• The Massie and Khanna discharge petition needs 218 signatures to compel a vote on the House floor.
• Currently, four Republicans have signed on, including Massie, Reps. Nancy Mace, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Lauren Boebert.
• If all 212 Democrats sign, only two more Republicans are needed.

Rep. Massie appealed to his colleagues' sense of empathy, asking, "I hope my colleagues are watching this press conference. I want them to think, what if this was your sister? What if this was your daughter?"
Rep. Khanna added, "Today we stand with survivors, we stand against big money, we stand to protect America's children. That is really what this is about."

Attorney Bradley Edwards, representing over 200 Epstein survivors, expressed confidence in the petition's success, stating it should "pass with flying colors." He emphasized the shocking nature of the documents, saying, "While we have seen the documents, you haven't, and when you see the documents, you're going to be appalled."

However, the path to transparency faces resistance. House Republican leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson, opposes the Massie and Khanna effort, citing concerns about protecting "innocent victims." Johnson advocates for the House Oversight Committee's investigation, which he believes will redact confidential information more effectively.

Despite the Oversight Committee's release of tens of thousands of pages, Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, dismissed it as largely already public, stating, "After careful review, Oversight Democrats have found that 97% of the documents received from the Department of Justice were already public. There is no mention of any client list or anything that improves transparency or justice for victims."

As the fight for transparency continues, the voices of the survivors resonate powerfully, demanding accountability and justice in a case that has shaken the foundations of power and privilege.

The courage and determination displayed by these women serve as a stark reminder that the pursuit of truth and justice, however challenging, is essential for healing and preventing future atrocities. Their unwavering resolve ensures that the memory of Epstein's crimes, and the systemic failures that enabled them, will not be forgotten.

Tags: Jeffrey Epstein, Epstein hoax, sex trafficking, survivors, Anouska De Georgiou, Danielle Bensky, Chauntae Davies, Trump, news conference, victims, Thomas Massie, Ro Khanna, Department of Justice

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/jeffrey-epstein-survivors-set-speak-capitol-hill/story?id=125211468