By Hannah Parry and Shane Croucher
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A group of victims of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein gathered at Capitol Hill Wednesday, alongside a bipartisan mix of lawmakers, to demand greater transparency from the Trump administration—and the release of all files related to the case.
Among the Epstein accusers was Chauntae Davies who shared her story of abuse and how she'd become "trapped" in Epstein's orbit. She said she felt "powerless" to speak out as the convicted pedophile had "surrounded himself with the most powerful leaders of our country and the world."
"He bragged about his powerful friends, including our current president, Donald Trump," Davies said. "It was his biggest brag, actually," she added. Davies said that she had also been "taken on a trip to Africa with former president Bill Clinton and other notable figures."
What To Know
- Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, and Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, organized the bipartisan conference.
- They were joined by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert.
- The Trump administration has released thousands more pages of files related to Epstein, but his accusers say officials are still holding more back.
- Many of the Epstein victims who spoke on Wednesday had never previously shared their story publicly.
Newsweek's live blog is closed.
Sep 03, 2025 at 07:36 PM EDT
GOP Rep. slams decision to transfer Ghislaine Maxwell to lower security prison camp
Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has slammed the decision to transfer Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell to a lower security prison camp, that she described as a "country club."
Luna demanded answers on the decision to move Maxwell from the Florida prison to the Texas prison camp, and called for her to "tell us names" in exchange for cooperation.
The Congresswoman said that she won't consider signing on to Rep. Thomas Massie's bill to force a House vote on releasing all Epstein files until she's read all 33,000 pages of the files that were released by the House Oversight panel on Tuesday.
"In the event that I'm finding that there's stuff that's not answering my questions and also it's not coinciding with the investigation, I might be in favor of it, but as of right now I'm not going to do that," she said.
Sep 03, 2025 at 07:00 PM EDT
WATCH: Trump calls Epstein scandal ‘Democrat hoax’ as victims rally in D.C.
Sep 03, 2025 at 06:46 PM EDT
How is Alan Dershowitz tied to Jeffrey Epstein? What to know
Alan Dershowitz is a high-profile lawyer who represented Jeffrey Epstein during the first investigation into the disgraced financier and leading up to Epstein's now infamous 2008, non-prosecution agreement.
In July this year, Dershowitz insisted "there is no client list" for Epstein but said there is a redacted list of people accused of engaging in improper sexual conduct
Dershowitz said he knows the names on that redacted list, telling Cuomo, "none of them are public figures who are currently in office."
The lawyer, who has also represented Harvey Weinstein, Trump and O.J. Simpson, told Cuomo that the redacted FBI document containing allegations over client names is being held up in the Manhattan courts by judges who are not releasing the names in order to protect Epstein's alleged victims. He added that Bondi is not responsible for the list and could not disclose it.
When it comes to people believing there are sex tapes of Epstein and other clients with underage girls, Dershowitz told Cuomo that the only videotapes of Epstein's Palm Beach property come from security cameras installed to prevent burglaries. He claimed there are no sex tapes and no incriminating videos of any potentially illegal behavior.
Sep 03, 2025 at 06:36 PM EDT
Democrats rip Epstein documents release: ‘Muddying waters’
Democratic House representatives criticized the release of a voluminous set of files on the sex trafficking investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, saying they contain little new information while redoubling demands for the full release of all files.
The House Oversight Committee examining the Epstein probe released some 34,000 documents it received from the Department of Justice (DOJ), posting them on the internet.
Tuesday's release of tens of thousands of pages and videos to a basic Google Drive has done little to silence the calls from Democrats for full disclosure.
"Most of the documents that were sent to our committee—those initial documents—were given to right-wing influencers back in February," Representative Robert Garcia of California told a committee hearing.
"Release all the files NOW," he added in a post to X.
Democratic Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts also said nearly everything distributed on Tuesday had already been released.
"They are doing everything in their power to muddy the waters. RELEASE. THE. FILES," he said in a post to X.
Republican House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said the documents were being released and he criticized Democrats for trying to "score political points" on a bipartisan issue
Sep 03, 2025 at 05:55 PM EDT
Republican Rep. Spartz said she’s not decided on whether to sign bill
Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz, of Indiana, attended the Capitol Hill press conference alongside the victims of Jeffrey Epstein on Wednesday.
But the Congresswoman said she was still undecided on whether to sign on to a discharge petition forcing a House vote on the bill to force the Justice Department to release more of the Epstein files.
We'll see, I mean we have some other stuff, so I'm not one to commit to some specific — but I'll spend some time to understand all of the sides," Spartz told the Washington Post, when asked when she plans to make the decision.
Sep 03, 2025 at 04:40 PM EDT
Republican says Trump ‘may be covering for’ people linked to Epstein
A Republican representative has said President Donald Trump might be covering for some rich and powerful friends in connection with Jeffrey Epstein, adding that the way to clear the president's name would be to release all information on the investigation into the convicted sex offender and disgraced financier.
Epstein died by suicide behind bars in New York while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019.
Thomas Massie, a Representative from Kentucky, called for the release of all of the files, saying doing so would help the president.
The House Oversight Committee examining the Epstein investigation released some 34,000 documents it received from the DOJ, but Democratic critics said they contained little that was new and reiterated calls for the release of all of the so-called Epstein files.
"The best way to clear President Trump's name is to release all the files," Massie said in an interview with MSNBC.
Sep 03, 2025 at 04:17 PM EDT
WATCH: Khanna says only two more Republicans needed to release all Epstein files
Sep 03, 2025 at 03:38 PM EDT
Rep. Ro Khanna says Epstein victims won’t be silenced
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, one of the cosponsors of the bill to force rthe release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, said that the convicted pedophile's victims won't be silenced.
"The victims we heard from today were not swayed by Epstein's attempts to silence them, and I won't be swayed by attempts to silence me," he said after joining the Epstein survivors at the press conference.
Sep 03, 2025 at 03:24 PM EDT
WATCH: ‘Strong effort’ from White House to stop full release of Epstein files, says Massie
Sep 03, 2025 at 03:23 PM EDT
Who is Lisa Phillips? What to know about the Jeffrey Epstein accuser
Former model Lisa Phillips met Jeffrey Epstein on his private island in the Caribbean when she was in her early 20s.
She told NPR that she was lured into Epstein's circle who she initially thought of as a "mentor."
"Everybody kind of loved Jeffrey," she said, "I mean, he was mysterious."
But after Epstein's death, Phillips said she began to compare her story with other survivors, which was when "I started to realize that I had been trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein."
"He's a master manipulator, and just the way he built his sex trafficking ring over so many years was just purely genius, because he had other women and young women also bringing the girls," she added. "That's what happened to me. It was another young woman, you know, 21, 22 years old, that brought me over to the island from a photo shoot."
Today, Phillips is an outspoken advocate for sexual abuse survivors and is demanding accountability for everyone involved in her abuse, and the abuse of multiple other women.
Sep 03, 2025 at 03:05 PM EDT
Jeffrey Epstein victims’ Capitol press conference pays tribute to Virginia Roberts Giuffre
The family of Virginia Giuffre, a Jeffrey Epstein accuser who died by suicide earlier this year, spoke at the Capitol press conference on Wednesday.
Virginia's brother Sky Roberts called on politicians to support the bill to force the release of the Epstein files, saying: "This is not a political issue... this is about humanity."
Roberts added that finally securing the release of all of the files, was about "justice against the rich and powerful who have stolen something from these women, and many children at the time - their freedom".
He then quoted his sister who said that she would only be able to heal, "when their freedom is taken from them, just like they did to me, and literally thousands of other victims."
Sep 03, 2025 at 02:56 PM EDT
How is Wes Lexner tied to Jeffrey Epstein? What to know
Les Wexner is an American billionaire and businessman from Dayton, Ohio, and the former CEO of L Brands, once the parent company of Victoria's Secret & Co.
A 2022 Hulu documentary, Victoria's Secret: Angels and Demons, explored Wexner's ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Wexner and Epstein met in NYC in the early 1980s and Epstein would go on to be his financial manager, until 2007. The pair worked closely together, with Wexner giving Epstein full power of attorney over his business empire and finances.
The billionaire has since been accused of failing to act when complaints about Epstein's behavior were raised. Wexner has denied knowing about Epstein's crimes.
According to the documentary, Epstein would pose as a recruiter of Victoria's Secret models in the early 1990s.
Wexner was informed of Epstein's behavior and told the disgraced financier it was a "violation of company policy" and he was "forbidden from ever doing so again," according to Victoria's Secret: Angels and Demons.
In 1997, model and actress Alicia Arden filed a police complaint in LA, stating Epstein had introduced himself as a recruiter for Victoria's Secret and sexually assaulted her. Artist Maria Farmer contacted the authorities about an alleged assault by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell while working as an artist-in-residence on Wexner's Ohio property in 1996.
Wexner cut ties with Epstein in late 2007. According to The New York Times, Wexner distanced himself 18 months after Epstein was charged in Florida with "multiple counts of molestation and unlawful sexual activity with a minor."
In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges of solicitation of prostitution from a minor and was required to register as a sex offender.
In 2019, following Epstein's arrest for sex trafficking, Wexner addressed the Wexner Foundation in writing, stating Epstein had "misappropriated vast sums of money" from him. He also said he was "NEVER aware of the illegal activity charged in the indictment" adding "I would never have guessed that a person I employed more than a decade ago could have caused such pain to so many people."
Read more from Molli Mitchell on Newsweek.
Sep 03, 2025 at 02:42 PM EDT
Nancy Mace ‘ had full blown panic attack’ after meeting Epstein survivors
Representative Nancy Mace, Republican of South Carolina, left a closed-door House Oversight Committee briefing with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse on Tuesday after she said she suffered a "full-blown panic attack."
Mace wiped tears as she exited the meeting, and she later said in a statement that she was "sweating, hyperventilating and shaking."
Newsweek contacted Mace's office for more information via email.
Lawmakers convened a closed-door Oversight Committee briefing with several women who have identified themselves as victims of Jeffrey Epstein and members of his network as the committee pursued documents and testimony related to the case.
However, Mace left the session early and appeared visibly upset as she walked past reporters outside the committee room.
Mace later posted on X that she experienced a "full-blown panic attack" while listening to victims recount their experiences and wrote that she was "sweating, hyperventilating, shaking" and "can't breathe."
Read in full from Theo Burman on Newsweek.
Sep 03, 2025 at 12:31 PM EDT
WATCH: ‘We know the names’: Epstein victims to compile own list of abusers
Sep 03, 2025 at 12:20 PM EDT
Trump doubles down on ‘Epstein hoax’ amid survivors Capitol press conference
Donald Trump was asked on Wednesday about the testimony of Jeffrey Epstein victims at Capitol Hill, some of whom have called on the president to stop referring to the case files as a "hoax," and the calls for more of the files to be released.
"Nobody is ever satisfied," he said, once again referring to the files as a "Democrat hoax."
"They're trying to get people to talk about something that's totally irrelevant to the success that we've had since I've been president," he added.
"I think it's enough. We should take about the greatness we're having."
Sep 03, 2025 at 12:13 PM EDT
Epstein survivors rebuke Donald Trump over ‘Epstein hoax’ claims
Marina Lacerda condemned President Donald Trump for calling the Jeffrey Epstein files "a hoax," adding, "It is not okay for us to be silenced."
Lacerda says she and fellow victims are "tired" of watching the news and hearing the case being dismissed as a hoax.
"This is not a hoax, it's not going away," Lacerda she said.
Another Epstein accuser, Haley Robson, a registered Republican, added Trump's "hoax" statements "just makes you want to explode inside."
"Please humanize us," she pleaded.
Sep 03, 2025 at 12:11 PM EDT
Epstein victim Marina Lacerda goes public for first time
Marina Lacerda became emotional as she spoke publicly for the first time about her abuse by Epstein and Maxwell.
"There are many pieces of my story that I can't remember, no matter how hard I try," Lacerda said.
"The constant state of wonder causes me so much fear and so much confusion. My therapist says that my brain is just trying to protect itself, but it's so hard to begin to heal knowing that there are people out there who know more about my abuse than I do.
"The worst part is that the government is still in possession right now of the documents and information that could help me remember and get over all of this, maybe, and help me heal.
"They have documents with my name on them that were confiscated from Jeffrey Epstein's house, and could help me put the pieces of my own life back together, but I don't have any of it. And I know the same is true for many of these women."
She continued: "If the government is going to release those documents to the public describing the crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein and others, the least they can do is give me my documents that they have about me. The other survivors deserve the same."
Sep 03, 2025 at 12:02 PM EDT
Epstein victim shares convicted pedophile’s alleged ‘brag’ about Trump
Among the Jeffrey Epstein accusers was Chauntae Davies who shared her story of abuse and how she'd become "trapped" in Epstein's orbit and felt "powerless" to speak out as the convicted pedophile had "surrounded himself with the most powerful leaders of our country and the world."
"He bragged about his powerful friends, including our current president, Donald Trump," she said at the rally.
"It was his biggest brag, actually," she added. Davis also claimed she had been "taken on a trip to Africa with former president Bill Clinton and other notable figures."
Sep 03, 2025 at 11:49 AM EDT
Epstein survivor Anouska de Georgiou calls on Donald Trump to help them
Jeffrey Epstein survivor Anouska de Georgiou called on President Donald Trump to help the victims by supporting the bill to release the files.
"I am no longer weak. I am no longer powerless. And I am no longer alone. And with your vote, neither will the next generation be," de Georgiou said.
"President Trump, you have so much influence and power in this situation. Please use that influence and power to help us."
Sep 03, 2025 at 11:44 AM EDT
Marjorie Taylor Greene says the ‘government holds the truth’ on Epstein files
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of three Republicans who have signed the petition to release the Epstein files, told the rally, "the truth needs to come out."
"The government holds the truth. The cases that are sealed hold the truth. Jeffrey Epstein's estate holds the truth. The FBI, the DOJ, and the CIA holds the truth and the truth," she said.
"We are demanding [the truth] come out on behalf of these women, but also as a strong message to every innocent child, teenager, woman and man that is being held captive and abuse. This should never happen in America, and it should never be a political issue that divides us."
Taylor Greene added that the shame of Epstein's crimes "does not fall on these brave, courageous women. The shame falls on every single person that coldly turned a blind eye to their abuse.
"The shame falls on the people in power that protected the monster Jeffrey Epstein and his cabal that continued a nightmare," she added.
Sep 03, 2025 at 11:41 AM EDT
Epstein victim warns, ‘We are not going away’
Annie Farmer said she was 16 years old when she was flown to New Mexico to spend a weekend with Epstein and Maxwell in 1996. Farmer said her sister, Maria, reported the abuse that occurred that year, including the "theft of sensitive photos" of them.
"I am now 46 years old. Thirty years later, we still do not know why that report was not properly investigated or why Epstein and his associates were allowed to harm hundreds, if not thousands, of other girls and young women," Farmer said.
"We have never been told whether those images were found when they discovered a large amount of child sexual abuse material on his property."
Farmer said for years Epstein's crimes were an "open secret" and that his interest in young girls was known by many, who "chose to look the other way because it benefited them to do so," seeking access to his network and his money.
She added: "We are not going away, and we are not going to be quiet, and we are not going to give up, and I ask the American public to stand with us and not give up."
Farmer called for a "thorough public review of the information" to prevent the systemic failures that happened in the Epstein case.
Sep 03, 2025 at 11:22 AM EDT
Marjorie Taylor Greene says Epstein case bigger than political divide
Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said on Wednesday that the Jeffrey Epstein case was bigger than political divides.
"It's an issue that Republicans and Democrats should never fight about. As a matter of fact, it's such an important issue that it should bring us all together," she said as she joined Epstein victims at a rally at Capitol Hill.
She added that she wanted to thank Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie for "doing something brave" by filing a petition calling for a vote on a bill, written by Massie and California Democrat Ro Khanna, which would require the Justice Department to release the Epstein files within 30 days.
"Crossing political boundaries for a very important fight. And I'm honored to join both of them. And I'm honored that Nancy Mace and Lauren Boebert signed the discharge petition along with myself," Taylor Greene added.
"I asked my Republican colleagues not to choose just one path for justice and transparency and accountability. But I asked my Republican colleagues to choose every path for justice and accountability and transparency."
President Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to release the Epstein files and initially, the White House said it would publish names and evidence about Epstein's associates. However, it then backtracked in July, causing a backlash.
Sep 03, 2025 at 11:16 AM EDT
Full list of Republicans signing discharge petition to release Epstein files
Four House Republicans have signed a petition to force a vote on the release of files associated with Jeffrey Epstein.
According to House data, the four Republicans have joined Democrats in calling for a vote on further action regarding documents concerning the activities of the convicted sex offender, who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting sex trafficking charges.
The petition was filed by Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie and calls for a vote on a bill, written by Massie and California Democrat Ro Khanna which would require the Justice Department to release the Epstein files within 30 days. At the time of writing, the petition has gained 134 signatures from 130 Democrats and four Republicans. The Republicans who have signed the petition are:
1. Thomas Massie, Kentucky
2. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia
3. Nancy Mace, South Carolina
4. Lauren Boebert, Colorado
Epstein's death, officially ruled a suicide by federal authorities, has fueled conspiracy theories and dominated political discourse, attracting attention across the political spectrum and leaving significant policy and reputational implications for major national institutions, including the Department of Justice, the presidency, and the federal prison system.
The issue has also become a flashpoint for Trump's administration, with frustration growing among his supporters over the perceived lack of accountability and transparency.
Sep 03, 2025 at 11:11 AM EDT
Epstein accuser says motive to oppose bill to release files is ‘to conceal wrongdoing’
Jeffrey Epstein survivor Anouska de Georgiou told lawmakers at the Capitol Hill rally Wednesday that the only motive to oppose the bill to force a release of the files is "to conceal wrongdoing'."
De Georgiou, her hands trembling, told lawmakers: "To be clear, the only motive for opposing this bill would be to conceal wrongdoing. You have a choice: Stand with the truth, or with the lies that have protected predators for decades."
Sep 03, 2025 at 11:01 AM EDT
Anouska de Georgiou: Maxwell pardon would make mockery of survivors
Anouska de Georgiou told of the personal toll that speaking about her abuse at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell has taken, and warned President Donald Trump against pardoning Maxwell.
"Every day of this journey towards healing has come at a profound cost to my mental health. But I am here. I chose to come because this bill really matters," de Georgiou said.
"I speak today not only in service of my own recovery from trauma inflicted by Maxwell and Epstein, but to honor the lives, the courage and sacrifices, of Virginia Guiffre, Carolyn Andriano, and others who could not continue.
"Their voices mattered. Their stories must not be forgotten."
She continued: "If Ghislaine Maxwell were pardoned, it would undermine all the sacrifices I made to testify, and make mockery of mine and all survivors' suffering. That is why the Epstein Files Transparency Act is so essential. It requires the Department of Justice release all the records related to Epstein and Maxwell investigations.
"Flight logs, immunity deals, internal communications, and even the records surrounding Epstein's detention and death. And, crucially, it forbids withholding documents simply because of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.
"This is about ending secrecy wherever abuse of power takes root."
Sep 03, 2025 at 10:53 AM EDT
Epstein files release: Read in full
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform released more than 30,000 pages of documents connected to the Jeffrey Epstein investigations after an August subpoena, and bipartisan lawmakers have renewed calls for fuller disclosure as some victims prepared to speak publicly.
The Oversight Committee posted 33,295 pages of records the committee said were provided by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in response to a subpoena issued by chairman James Comer on August 5.
The documents can be found here and backup access here.
Committee officials and multiple news outlets reported that a large portion of the material consisted of court filings, previously released testimony and other records that had already been available in public court dockets.
Sep 03, 2025 at 10:50 AM EDT
‘We know the names’: Victims threaten to compile own list of abusers
Jeffrey Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips said that she and fellow victims planned to compile their own list of abusers from within the disgraced financier's friends and associates, after the Trump administration denied the existence of an Epstein "client list."
"We know the names. Many of us were abused by them," she said at Wednesday's Capitol Hill rally.
Sep 03, 2025 at 10:48 AM EDT
More than 30,000 pages of Jeffrey Epstein released Tuesday
The House Oversight Committee on Tuesday made public a large set of files it received from the Justice Department on the sex trafficking investigations into Jeffrey Epstein and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, offering new material but leaving many questions unanswered.
The committee's release marked the first time lawmakers formally posted the files for public view, though much of what they contain had already circulated in years past through court records or public disclosures. Still, the move intensified pressure in Congress, where lawmakers are grappling with how to handle the politically sensitive case and whether to force full disclosure of what has become known as the "Epstein files."
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) speak with reporters after a meeting with victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein at the U.S. Capitol Sept. 2, 2025. Associated PressThe folders included hundreds of images of court documents dating back years, along with video clips that appeared to show police body camera footage from searches and interviews conducted with victims. In those interviews, the faces of victims were obscured to protect their identities. The Justice Department provided the files in response to a subpoena from the committee, but Democrats and some Republicans quickly noted that the cache was made up mostly of material already available in the public domain.
Read in full from Gabe Whisnant on Newsweek.
Sep 03, 2025 at 10:45 AM EDT
IN PICTURES: Victims of Jeffrey Epstein and their supporters during a rally at the Capitol
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Sep 03, 2025 at 10:40 AM EDT
Epstein survivors are sharing their stories at a rally on Capitol Hill
Several Jeffrey Epstein survivors are sharing their stories and speaking out about his abuse at a rally on Capitol Hill, after the files were released.
Not since a 2019 court hearing after the pedophile's death have so many of his accusers gathered together.
Survivor Jess Michaels said that "for 27 years I thought I was the only one that Jeffrey Epstein raped. This is what power looks like: survivors united and refusing to be dismissed."
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