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Epstein Survivors Speak Ahead of House Vote. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired November 18, 2025 - 09:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[09:30:00]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To smear us in the public eye. We were treated as problems to be managed instead of victims to be protected.

Today, something has changed. Individually, our voices were whispers. Together they've become impossible to ignore. We are encouraged to see elected officials from both parties -- thank you -- come together and finally take action to release the files.

I'll leave it there. Thank you.

WENDY AVIS, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Good morning. My name is Wendy, and I'm standing here today with a truth that still scares me to say out loud. I'm going to put this down because I can't hold both, as you guys saw. But that was me when I was 14, when I met Jeffrey Epstein. None of us here signed up for this political warfare. We never asked to be dragged into battles between people who never protected us in the first place. We are exhausted from surviving the trauma and then surviving the politics that swirl around it.

When survivors traveled to speak, to advocate, to stand for the truth, we do it with our own money, from our own pockets, carrying our own fear, shaking in our own bodies. There is no team. There is no paycheck. It's just us hoping our voices make a difference. And it puts a pit right in your stomach because you know you're standing on the right side of history, but standing on the right side of history is not a comfortable place to be. It never has been. And in a sick, heartbreaking way, it's an honor, an honor to show up, an honor to speak here, and an honor to stand in light where when the world tried to keep us in the dark.

And what keeps me standing is even with all this fear, I have a 14- year-old daughter myself, the same age I was. And when I look at her, I see the little girl I used to be. The one that no one protected. My greatest fear in this entire world is history repeating itself. And I will do anything, absolutely anything, to make sure that she has to never be one of these girls standing in front of a crowd like this today, in her life.

So today, from the safest and bravest places inside myself, I am asking Congress, please pass the bill. Please release the records. Stop making survivors fight alone for the truth that should have protected us in the first place.

To the representatives that support us, thank you. Thank you for standing beside survivors so we don't have to face this fear alone. Thank you for choosing what is right over what is easy. And every survivor who is scared right now, your fear is real. Your courage is real. And even though we're terrified, we keep showing up because someone has to tell the truth. Someone has to protect these children. We deserve safety then. We deserved it now -- or we deserve it now. And we are done being afraid so others can stay comfortable.

So, with that, I want to say, thank you guys for having us. And I just hope that people can remember that, as survivors, you're -- our story never leaves us, but, the choice that you make to pass this bill, your -- you -- your career is in front of you. And that choice will follow you.

Thank you.

DANIELLE BENSKY, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Hello, everybody. My name is Danny (ph) Bensky. This was me at 17 years old.

Coming from the dance world, I was recruited in 2004 after a systematic breaking down where Epstein leveraged my mother's brain tumor scans. He threatened me to withhold care for her. He trapped me in a year-long cycle of abuse.

The last time I was here in Washington, D.C., I talked about being a part of this beautiful mosaic of women behind me. And they are exactly that. They are a beautiful mosaic of energy and passion and love and life.

I am one story of a thousand. You think of that number, a thousand. I spoke of how big our hopes and dreams once were, and they talked about how they were completely shattered at the hands of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein.

[09:35:05]

Now, I look at this amazing community behind me. They are survivor sisters. We are together. We stand together in this. And I realize that we are a representation of women across America.

We come from different backgrounds We have different religions. We are different races, different creeds, different ethnicities. We have different political affiliations. Some of us don't want to be political at all. And yet we stand here together for this cause.

We're united in the call for transparency, complete transparency, to find justice. Justice for our younger selves. These pictures that you see, they're real people. I wish I could go back and give my former self a hug and say, this matters, and it's going to change and mean it.

We are standing here for justice, for the youth of tomorrow, and justice for those who are no longer with us, like the beautiful, brave Virginia Giuffre. We understand that the road is long, but I implore you to stay the course, please. Living in an age where you can get news in ten second clips on your phone, I know that this is a big task for us, but it's a very personal one for survivors. It's a very personal one for us as a country.

So, I'd like to ask you to try something right now. I'd like you -- I'd like everybody to close their eyes or soften their gaze just for a moment. And I want everybody to think of a child that is close to them between the ages of 14 and 18 years old. It could be your daughter. It could be your niece. It could be a friend's kids. It could be you at a former age. It could be your mother at that age. But really envision that for a second, 14 to 18 years old.

Once you think of that person, I want you to think about what they feel like. What is their energy? What do they smell like? What sound do they make when they laugh? Really think about that child just for a moment.

Now I want you to picture a pair of giant looming wooden doors and an overbearing marble landing. Those are the doors to Jeffrey Epstein's house. Do you allow that child to enter or not? If the answer is yes, you would allow entrance, you stand with predators. If the answer is no, then, congratulations, you're on the right side of justice.

Now you have homework. I am calling for the American people. You have homework. Call your Congress -- Congressional leaders. Call your senators. Please support this bill. Let's get it all released. Thank you very much.

ANNIE FARMER, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Good morning. My name is Annie Farmer. And this is a photo of me and my sister Maria Farmer. Around the time I was 16 and she was 25. That's how old we were when we were abused by Epstein and Maxwell.

Survivors have repeatedly stated that our pursuit of transparency and justice is a nonpartizan issue. But given the political noise surrounding this case, I just want to remind people of some of the facts. In 1996, when my sister Maria bravely blew the whistle on this group by reporting to the FBI what Epstein and Maxwell did to both of us, they hung up on -- the phone on her, and there was no follow up of any kind. Bill Clinton was president.

In 2006, the FBI came to us, finally interviewed us, and asked us both to be witnesses against Epstein. We were very anxious, but we agreed. And then we didn't hear back from them due to their infamous sweetheart deal. George W. Bush was president.

In 2015, when the DOJ was sent a FOIA requests for Maria's FBI files, and they were denied, as they have been many times, Barack Obama was president.

In 2019, when Epstein died in prison due to either negligence or foul play, Donald Trump was president.

In 2023, Maria's attorneys sent a letter on her behalf to the government requesting an investigation into the repeated law enforcement failures in this case. Similar to what was done in the case of Larry Nassar. They declined to do so. Consequently, my sister filed notice that she would be suing the government for failing to uphold its legal, ethical and moral duties in this case. Joe Biden was president.

This year, after campaigning on a pledge to finally release the files, under Trump's second presidency, the DOJ announced they were closing the investigation into Epstein's co-conspirators. And then transferred Ghislaine Maxwell into a prison camp, where it's well documented that she is receiving special treatment.

This is not an issue of a few corrupt Democrats or a few corrupt Republicans.

[09:40:05]

This is a case of institutional betrayal. Because these crimes were not properly investigated, so many more girls and women were harmed.

My sister, because of her bravery, was repeatedly threatened and lived in fear with dire consequences for her health and her career. Thirty years later, even as oceans of allegations and obvious truths have emerged, the government has still not chosen transparency. This is why we have all come together as one united voice to demand the release of all the Epstein files, and to finally bring the truth out of the shadows.

SKY ROBERTS, BROTHER OF VIRGINIA GIUFFRE: Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed members of Congress, and everyone gathered here today, I want to start by thanking the three of you. Thank you. It takes a lot of bravery to do what you're doing. We hear you. We see you. It means a lot for you to be here with us. And I know my sister would be incredibly proud. This is the moment she was fighting for, and the moment that all survivors are fighting for. So, thank you.

My name is Sky Roberts. And I stand before you as the brother of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a warrior, a mother and a sister whose legacy will forever resonate in the hearts of those who understand the fight against injustice. Today we find ourselves in a place of deep sorrow, shattered by the loss of our beloved sister, yet we are honored and privileged to carry her voice forward and continue her relentless fight alongside her fellow survivor sisters.

Virginia's story is one that should have been filled with promise, but instead it became a harrowing tale of exploitation and survival. At just 16 years old, she took a job at Mar-a-Lago, believing she had secured a dream summer position. But that dream quickly morphed into a nightmare when Ghislaine Maxwell preyed upon her innocence.

This isn't just the story of one girl. It's a story about the insidious nature of power and abuse. A dark chapter in our society that must be told.

Virginia was no stranger to trauma. In her memoir, "Nobody's Girl," she shares the painful truth that she had already suffered abuse at the hands of our father, and a family friend. But what happened next was unfathomable. Epstein and Maxwell didn't just abuse her, they trafficked her to a network of the rich and powerful. Princes, prime ministers, politicians, financiers and lawyers. These men committed unspeakable acts against her, against her will, and against the will of countless survivors who stand united with us today.

Virginia's strength was tested in many ways that most of us can hardly imagine. She was manipulated, coerced, and threatened, forced into complicity in her own devastation. She often spoke of psychological scars that ran deeper than the physical ones. From the start, she wrote, "they manipulated me into participating in behaviors that ate away at me, eroding my ability to comprehend reality and preventing me from defending myself. The most destructive wound they inflicted was that of forced complicity, a betrayal of self that was crafted by her abusers."

But I stand here today to declare that their tactics of fear and intimidation did not work. Virginia's spirit could not be broken. She became a beacon of hope, a warrior fighting not just for herself, but for every survivor who suffered in silence. She said, I felt it was my duty to stand up to predators like Epstein and Maxwell. I would put my neck on the line to make sure my daughter never has to go through what I had to endure.

[09:45:00]

These survivors, like Virginia, have transformed to mothers and strong women, fierce in the face of adversity. Many of them have daughters the same age they were when they faced their own abuse. They are determined to break the cycle, to shatter the silence that has kept so many in the shadows.

Virginia quoted in her memoir, "there I was, as the mother of three children, I felt it was my duty to stand up to predators, like Epstein and Maxwell. I said, I mentioned to Ellie (ph) in particular, her daughter, I would put my neck on the line to make sure she never has to go through what I had to go through, I said, joining Edwards SVRA (ph) case, said I -- what I would want somebody to do for my daughter or sister and friend. In the end, I said, I was just trying to do the right thing. That's what I felt like I'm doing, I said. I'm making a small dent in this big world we live in."

Well, Sissy, you didn't just make a small dent. You made a monumental impact. A resounding statement that echoed across the world. You built an unbreakable wall, a barrier that will protect future generations from the horrors of abuse. As we gather here today, I urge each of you, members of Congress, advocates and all those who hear this message to join us in this fight. We demand justice, accountability, and support for survivors. And we keep getting asked this, what does justice mean, you ask? It starts with acknowledgment. That's the first step. Acknowledge in the face of survivors that this happened and that this is true. Your vote carries that weight.

My sister is not a political tool for you to use. These survivors are not political tools for you to use. These are real stories, real trauma. And it's time for you to stop just talking about it and act. Vote yes.

Virginia's legacy is not just hers. It belongs to all of us who stand against injustice. Together, we will ensure that the voices of survivors are heard, that the truth prevails, and that the horrors of the past are never repeated. Thank you. Thank you for listening. And thank you for standing with us. Together, we will not let Virginia's fight be in vain. Together, we will not let the predators win. Together, we will be the change this world desperately needs.

Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is me when I met Jeffrey Epstein in 1991. I always share the date when I talk about my story because people rarely, rarely acknowledge how long this has actually been going on. And for too long truth has been buried, survivors have been silenced, and powerful people have been protected. And today we stand in a moment that will decide whether our government still belongs to the American people or to those who prey on them. Because when mountains of evidence and decades of victim reports across five administrations still lead to sweetheart deals or no prosecution at all, this isn't just one case gone wrong. It's an institutional failure on a historic scale, and every member of Congress and this administration must answer for that failure.

Millions of sexual abuse survivors know the pain of speaking up and watching the institutions that are meant to protect them look away. We're not alone in this. Epstein may be the headline, but the betrayal reaches every corner of our country. And if our justice system can collapse, this completely, for so long, then Congress cannot pretend that the system is working.

[09:50:07]

Not for us and not for the generations that will live with the consequences of what they choose now. One long, overdue step towards repairing this damage is the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Because without transparency, there's no accountability. Without accountability, there is no justice. And without justice, democracy dies.

So, representatives, you have a choice, to show millions of Americans whether you stand with us or with the powerful predators that are counting on your complicity.

Thank you.

SHARLENE ROCHARD, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Good morning.

This is me. This was me. My name is Sharlene Rochard, and I stand before you today, not as a victim of rumor or conspiracy, but as a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse. Far too long, survivors like me have been dismissed, silenced, or told that our pain was exaggerated or fabricated. Let me be clear, this is not a hoax.

What we endured was real. And it has scarred lives across five presidential administrations. The truth has been buried in sealed files and hidden records for far too long. The Epstein Files Transparency Act is not just about survivors, it's about America itself. How can we keep America great if the principles the nation was founded on, that power belongs to the people is not protected. No one, no matter how wealthy and well-connected stands above the law. If we cannot face the truth, then we betray the very ideals that defines us as a country.

By passing this act, Congress has the chance to prove that truth matters more than privilege. That justice matters more than influence. And that America has the courage to confront even the most uncomfortable realities.

This is not just about survivors. It's about every American who believes in accountability, fairness, and the promise of justice.

I stand here today, not only for myself, but for every survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse who has carried this burden in silence, and for every citizen who believes that justice delayed is justice denied.

I want to thank Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie for standing with us. Thank you. And I especially want to thank Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. Her unwavering support, her courage to stand with us and demand transparency gives us strength. It shows that this fight for accountability is bigger than politics. It's about humanity, justice and truth. This is about America's future. It's about whether we, the people, will be heard when we have the courage to stand for truth and justice.

Our voices are real. Our pain is real. And our demand for justice will not be silenced.

Thank you.

LARA BLUME MCGEE, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: My name is Lara Blume McGee. This is my first time speaking publicly about my abuse. As a one -- young woman in New York City, I was pursuing a modeling career and building a life of giving back through my philanthropic work.

[09:55:00]

Instead, I was intentionally groomed and became part of an international model sex trafficking ring that was led by Jeffrey Epstein. I was sexually and mentally abused by Jeffrey Epstein. He used my dreams and vulnerabilities to silence me.

Today, I am here to break that silence. Sex trafficking and sexual abuse are crimes against human beings, not political talking points. For too long Epstein's abuse was an open secret, with his network remained protected. Evil thrives in darkness. We must shine a light on every corner where it hides. Nothing should be off limits in the search for truth.

Please vote that everything in the files be released. Let investigations proceed without obstruction. Demand oversight and deliver justice. The government must never side with predators.

I come as one survivor, but I stand here for everyone who prayed for me, who believed in me, and who hoped for me. To my fellow survivors, your courage brought me here. We are more than victims. We are mothers, daughters, sisters, friends. This is not a hoax, and we will not be erased. Shame on any elected official who obstructs truth and justice for the American people. Thank you.

LIZ STEIN, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: My name is Liz Stein. In 1994 I was a senior in college, just 21 years old. I had aspirations of attending law school after graduation. And it looked like I had a bright future ahead of me. 1994 was also the year I met Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein. My involvement with them changed the trajectory of my entire life.

The Epstein files are not about loyalty to any one political party. They're evidence of a crime. We stand here today victims of the crime of sex trafficking.

I'm here today speaking both for my 21-year-old self and for the countless number of people who have experienced sexual violence. When I am asked what I would tell my younger self if I could say something, I say that I would tell myself to tell someone. And if they don't listen, to tell someone else, and to just keep telling until someone listens. And even if nobody listens to you, you should be proud of yourself because you stood in your uncomfortable truth when others could not. And that is true bravery.

We stand here today as survivors, part of a sorority that none of us asked to join. We have told our stories over and over and over. Now it's time to see who was listening. We ask that you vote to release the files, all of them, so the victims of this crime can finally see justice.

Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, hello, everyone. And I want to first say thank you for your ongoing leadership. I know it must not be an easy thing to do, much like it's not easy for us to be doing this. So, I guess we're in this together. So, thank you so much. I feel like our courage has, you know, we're reflecting, mirroring courage, because that's what it takes to do this, right?

So, this was me at, 22 years old. I was not a child technically. A very young adults. I imagine most of you here can relate to the mindset and to be 22 years old.

So, today is a good day. And I thank God for that. It's widely and undeniably political -- clear that our current political climate is quite rigid and seemingly at war with one another.

[09:59:51]

This sets a stage -- this sets the stage for voices, survivor voices, to get spoken over and drowned out by the political darts whizzing by.