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Xi Shows Off Weaponry, Partnerships at Victory Day Parade; Xi, Putin and Kim Show Unity in First Joint Public Appearance; Beijing Spent Billions Developing Weapons; Epstein Accusers Hold Presser with Reps. Khanna, Massie and Greene. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired September 03, 2025 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): Welcome to our second hour of the show from our Middle East programming headquarters. I'm Becky Anderson in
Abu Dhabi, where the time is just after 6:00 in the evening.
For the first time ever, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong-un stood together publicly at a military parade,
a clear message to the U.S. president, who's now accused the trio of conspiring against the United States.
And this hour, the Epstein controversy is roaring back to life. Women who say they were sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell are
appearing at a news conference with two U.S. lawmakers who are pushing for the Trump administration to fully release all files.
Plus, amid the growing international backlash against Israel's conduct in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, the UAE, the key Arab state to normalize
relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, is warning that annexing any part of the West Bank would be a red line.
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ANDERSON: Well, China projecting a picture of military readiness and growing political influence at its huge victory day parade in Beijing
today. The message captured in the words of president Xi as he showed off new weapons and inspected troops, telling them China's rise is, quote,
"unstoppable."
Well, the political optics also stunning the leaders of Russia and North Korea looking on, the trio's show of unity, apparently meant in part as a
challenge to the U.S.-led world order.
Well, the spotlight remained on president Xi at a gala later on where the Chinese leader was given a standing ovation. Well, CNN's Ivan Watson
reports on the pageantry and the subtexts in Beijing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Chinese soldiers on the march and then an arsenal of Chinese made weapon systems,
part of a mammoth parade held in Beijing on Wednesday to commemorate 80 years since the surrender of Japan in World War II.
WATSON: This has been an enormous display of Chinese military strength and discipline but perhaps the most powerful images of the day will be of the
Chinese Leader Xi Jinping and his choice of foreign guests.
WATSON (voice-over): President Xi kicked off the event leading Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un up a red
carpet up to Tiananmen Gate. On this day of Chinese victory, these two strongmen received top honors.
DAVID SANGER, CNN POLITICAL & NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Having this group of other Leaders, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un the president of Iran, all
their reinforced China's role as the centerpiece of a new coalition that is basically there to challenge the West. And his message was, this is what we
challenge it with.
WATSON (voice-over): Meanwhile, U.S. president Donald Trump has been sending mixed messages, claiming he's not worried about China.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Not at all. China needs us. And have a very good relationship with President Xi is, you know.
WATSON (voice-over): And then hours later, writing this to his Chinese counterpart, please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong
U.N. as you conspire against the United States of America. At the event, China displayed conventional armaments, tanks, missiles, helicopters and
fighter jets flying in close formation.
Also paraded air and undersea drones, types of weapons that have transformed modern warfare on battlefields around Ukraine. And Beijing
showed off a new intercontinental ballistic missile, as well as air defense lasers. Amid these weapons of war, Xi expressed some hope for peace.
XI JINPING, CHINESE LEADER: Today, humanity, once again, faces the choice between peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win cooperation over a
zero-sum game.
WATSON (voice-over): China's leadership wants to reshape the world order.
[10:05:00]
So it put on this elaborate show of force to back up this demand -- Ivan Watson, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, potentially the biggest winner of the day, Kim Jong-un. CNN's Mike Valerio is in Seoul and he spoke earlier to my colleague, Audie
Cornish, and says this parade provided a major boost to the North Korean leader's global profile. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE VALERIO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is North Korea's moment being stronger than ever on the international stage. There has never been a
time, Audie, when North Korea has been embraced so forcefully by both China and Russia at the same time.
So why that matters for everybody back home in the United States, certainly for our friends in Washington, D.C, the Trump administration, no less.
If you're President Trump and you're trying to reengage Kim Jong-un in North Korea when it comes to his nuclear program, really, if you're
thinking about Kim Jong-un and how he moves his chess pieces, what incentive does he have to come to the negotiating table and perhaps agree
to concessions when he is seen on the world stage?
Like the pictures that we're looking at right now, embraced. So again, so forcefully, so warmly by Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
So if we expand the aperture a little wider, what this parade and the festivities, the commemorations were aiming to do today, it was trying to
communicate to the world on behalf of Chinese Leader Xi Jinping that he's trying to really establish a new world order that is not afraid to
challenge the United States and liberal democracies writ large.
And by putting Kim Jong-un right next to Xi and then on the other side of Vladimir Putin, that was trying to convey to the world that Kim Jong-un is
an integral part of that new order that hopes to challenge the established set of things.
And, you know, it's worth noting before we go that this was not a foregone conclusion. You just got to go back not too far. We're talking about
October of 2006, when Russia was voting for sanctions for North Korea's nuclear program.
China had chilly relations with North Korea as recently as last year. So certainly a sizable change as these three leaders walk forward together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Right. Well, U.S. president Donald Trump not wasting any time responding to what was the big show in Beijing.
In a Truth Social post, he wrote, "May president Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my
warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un as you conspire against the United States of America."
For more on this, let's bring in Dave Rank. He's a former career diplomat with the U.S. foreign service and was deputy chief of mission in Beijing.
I'm eager to get your perspective on all of this. But first, picking up on Donald Trump's calling this a conspiracy against the U.S. this was clearly
a show of force to an audience of one, the U.S. president.
Was this a product of Trump's own doing to your mind?
DAVE RANK, FORMER CAREER DIPLOMAT, U.S. FOREIGN SERVICE; FORMER DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION IN BEIJING: Oh, I think to some degree, I'm not sure,
though, Xi Jinping or the Chinese would see this as a -- as a -- directed just at Donald Trump.
I mean, it was -- they were looking at a Chinese audience. They were looking at an audience around the world. And, of course, looking at the
United States as one of many audiences for this.
But your colleague talking about Kim Jong-un and the importance of that that meeting, I think it really is significant. You look at eight years
ago, when Donald Trump came in, in his first term in office, there was kind of a truce between the U.S. and China on trade issues.
So that -- so that as Washington put pressure on Beijing to squeeze Pyongyang to come to the table. And that's completely changed now. Now it's
very clear that, you know, there's not only trade conflict but also Beijing is making clear that North Korea is as close or closer than ever.
ANDERSON: So this visual of Xi flanked by Putin and Kim is just remarkable. And I guess we should ask just how concerned the U.S. in
principle should be about this.
And beyond the show of unity against the West, are there any tangible outcomes from this summit, this parade that we've seen today, that worry
you?
RANK: Well, a lot of it should worry people in the United States. I was less struck by Xi Jinping standing next to Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin.
[10:10:00]
Although that's significant. Then the fact that you had the leader of India there and that's probably more significant, you know, I would say almost 30
years American presidents have courted India as a -- as a counterweight to China. And in a very short amount of time, we have seen that that U.S.-
India relationship crumble.
ANDERSON: I think it's important to point out that, while this was a huge show of military and diplomatic force to a degree, certainly, you know,
with no involvement of the U.S. or indeed the West.
And you know, for some time, we've heard from that part of the world, from these leaders very specifically, that there is a new world order
burgeoning.
I just wonder, when you go beyond the kind of optics of this, how much sort of, you know, real substance there is to this tectonic changing of plates
when it comes to geopolitics?
RANK: Sure. And I think that's exactly the right question, because parades are symbolism. They're about showing, seeing who shows up and what shows
up, the kinds of equipment.
But does China have the ability to step in and play the role or the interest in playing the role that the United States has played for the last
decades?
I think commercially, is China willing to be the buyer of last resort as the United States was, up until really the first Trump presidency, and
militarily, is China interested and willing to be, to play a role outside of its immediate neighborhood?
Certainly, I see the pictures that are being, you know, on the screen now. It has a lot of equipment that would make it a very serious adversary, you
know, if it were to play a more an outsized role.
ANDERSON: And I've got a guest to speak you know, military assets, military investment, tactics going forward. So I'm going to leave that just
for the moment, because I do want you to speak to whether you believe that the U.S. has a clear China strategy at present.
Former congresswoman and defense expert Jane Harman has told CNN that she thinks there is no U.S. strategy toward China at this point, just tactics.
Just have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANE HARMAN, FORMER CHAIR, NATIONAL DEFENSE STRATEGY COMMISSION: I don't think we have any strategy. I think we have a series of tactics which shift
on the day. And I think foreign leaders understand this. They don't want Trump to hate them, so they play him.
Xi has a long-term strategy to supplant the liberal world order with a Chinese world order. And he's playing Trump beautifully. Everywhere we
leave, he goes. Think Africa.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: What are your thoughts?
RANK: Yes, it's hard to argue with that and particularly on the point -- yes. I mean, there has been a long-term U.S. strategy toward China, not
always perfectly executed. I think that clearly is in the past.
Now it is a collection of tactics and they are not even -- not often -- or often not, supporting tactics. So I think you're, you know, that analyst,
Jane Harman is right in the big picture and in the small picture as well.
ANDERSON: Which I assume I'm right in saying worries you, correct?
RANK: I spent a long time working on that imperfectly executed but consistent strategy toward China over three decades of my career. I'm not
sure where that goes. And I wish I had more confidence.
If there's a strategy, it is very -- it is one of the best kept secrets in America, because it certainly looks like a collection of tactics or knee-
jerk reactions or personal whims at times.
And that's a bad place to be. You know, the, the rest of the world, for better or worse, could look at the United States and reasonably predict
what we were going to do. I don't think you can do that anymore. And it's not a great way to run a railroad.
[10:15:00]
So you know, Xi Jinping, I think, is offering an alternative that isn't attractive to some countries. But you know, there's something to be said
for predictability. And, you know, Xi is offering to fill the void that the United States is -- has left in the last few months.
ANDERSON: Your analysis and insight is incredibly valuable. Thank you, sir.
Well, today's victory day parade, as we've said, offered a rare glimpse into the rapid advances of China's military technology under Xi. Beijing
has poured billions of dollars into developing weapons, many of which were showcased for the first time, including hypersonic missiles, laser air
defense systems and undersea drones, for example.
Let's dig a little bit deeper now with Dr. Michael Raska. He is an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. His
research and teaching focus very specifically on defense and military innovation, including the impact of emerging technologies such as AI.
It's good to have you. An important discussion today, given what we are seeing on display in Beijing. I want to dig a little deeper into this new
technology.
But first, let's just set a context here and wrap our heads around where China's military stands vis-a-vis the United States. China's estimated
defense budget this year, a bit above $300 billion. The U.S. is at nearly $1 trillion. It spends more on defense than China and Russia combined for
that matter.
So what do you take away from this military parade?
How much has China actually gained or is gaining on the United States at this point?
Let's start there.
DR. MICHAEL RASKA, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, SINGAPORE: Thank you, Becky, for having me. Well, there are several
aspects of your questions.
On one hand, my takeaway is that the margins of military technological superiority that the U.S. and the West have enjoyed for many, many decades
is shrinking.
So the Chinese military parade today, it showed, you know, that the technological gaps are shrinking and they are increasingly moving from
being copier and reproducer to adapter/modifier. And perhaps in some aspects, also innovator of emerging technologies.
ANDERSON: And let's talk about those emerging technologies. Just explain to us what they are, what China has and why this is so significant.
RASKA: Well, rather than looking at individual platforms, I think you can you can look at the domains that they are focusing: space, near space,
cyberspace and underwater domains.
And here you see a lot of these new technologies coming online. The drones, for example, the hypersonic missiles, the laser-guided weapons, the space-
based communications, the electronic warfare.
So all of these systems combined are trying to give the Chinese a strategic advantage, perhaps over the potential adversaries such as the U.S. At the
same time, it's also the quantity of the missiles and the quantity of the drones that they're able to produce and are able to saturate, you know, the
areas that are of interest.
ANDERSON: How significant is this new model of ICBMs?
RASKA: Well, again, they are different, you know, platforms and systems that they have shown. You know, you have these intercontinental ballistic
missiles -- the DF-5Cs, for example, you know and DF-5Ds that they have, you know, basically, they can target the United States. But this is for
strategic deterrence.
But they have also hundreds of intermediate and short-range missiles that they can saturate, you know, anywhere from first to second island chain. So
we saw the, for example, the DF-26, the carrier, the one killer missile, for example.
So all these missiles are designed for not only for deterrence but also to prevent the U.S. in order to intervene in potential crisis.
But what is really striking, I think, in the parade is really how they're interested in the unmanned systems; you know, the underwater drones; the,
you know, different types of medium, large, even the small swarm drones.
So they are basically plugging and playing with AI, you know, using AI- enabled autonomous systems. And that's where they believe they have advantage in the future.
ANDERSON: That's fascinating. A military analyst earlier told CNN -- and I just want to quote here, quote, "impressive on the surface."
[10:20:03]
Speaking to the parade and what was on show, "Parades are not a good indicator of military effectiveness."
Now it does bear mentioning that China has not fought a high-intensity war since the Vietnam War, of course, in the '70s.
So for all the technology that we saw here, how much does this actually translate into combat readiness?
You talk about, you know, this being a display, you know, of deterrence to a degree.
You know, how much further do we take this?
RASKA: Of course, you know, at the operational level, they still have a lot of weaknesses. And on one hand, you have the weaknesses in politization
and the corruption in the military.
I think there's something that you didn't see today at the military parade. Remember, when you have military parades in other countries, you see high-
ranking generals, you know, right next to the, you know, top leadership, right.
Did you see any high-ranking leaders, military leaders, officers next to Xi Jinping?
You didn't. Right? And so there is a huge purge going on, purges and waves of purges going on inside the PLA, which, you know, erodes the internal
distrust and loyalty. That is one aspect.
Then you have, of course, the operational military aspects of jointness, for example, that have struggled for many, many years to put all the
different forces together; the air force working in jointness with navy, with the rocket forces and everything else.
Even though they have improved over time, I would argue they still have a long way to go in terms of, you know, networking all these elements
together.
And as you mentioned, also, you know, a lot of the technologies that they put on the parade are still, you know, in experimental phase. There are a
lot of prototypes. So on one hand, it shows really the technological progress on the defense industrial side.
But if the PLA is really able to translate this in a military effectiveness in times of crisis, you know, it carries a lot of other factors. You need
to have that organizational, conceptual doctrine, you know, and everything has to come together.
So I think they still have a long way to go at the operational level. But nevertheless, they are able to change the security equation on -- in the
region by bringing out all these advanced military technologies and, indirectly or directly, basically challenging the U.S. and its allies in
the region.
ANDERSON: And I'm pleased you brought up that purge inside the senior ranks at present and perhaps, you know -- and the fact that we didn't see
those, you know, those senior sort of generals, chiefs at the parade.
It isn't clear whether that is a sign of weakness or strength for the commander in chief, let's call him that, President Xi, at present. What is
clear is that he has made more speeches, has spoken more vocally about where he sees the military today and its growth and its importance to
China.
Look, China, the People's Liberation Army, has significantly more manpower troops than the U.S. Army does, for example. And it boasts a much bigger
industrial capacity that was clearly on display here.
As you focus on XI's narrative today, what are you hearing from the Chinese leader about his intentions with the Chinese military?
RASKA: I think there is an increasing gap -- or there's always existing gap between the political aspiration, between what Xi Jinping and the
Chinese political leadership expects the military to do and the types of missions and the actual capability of the PLA to, you know, be ready to for
these type of missions.
So I think there is a lot of pressure from the top leadership to really accelerate the military modernization and military readiness in order to
implement the narrative. And the narrative is that military has to be ready for whatever the leadership is.
Basically decide to do, whether its Taiwan Peninsula, whether it's the South China Sea or other, you know, mission, you know, areas. But I think
really the military modernization drive that the leadership is pushing, right?
You know, it is accelerating, you know, pressure on the PLA to really satisfy, to really meet the expectations. And I don't think the PLA is
really there to, you know, meet the gap, meet the aims that they are asking for.
(CROSSTALK)
RASKA: Does that make sense?
[10:25:00]
ANDERSON: Good to have you, sir. Thank you very much indeed. Yes, it does make sense. Thank you.
I'm glad it makes sense.
In Tiananmen Square, the symbolism was palpable with Xi Jinping waving from an open-top black limo. The president showcased his already firm grip on
the military. Let's take a moment for the car de jour then.
The red flag, a Chinese national icon, it was domestically produced and has been the vehicle of choice for generations of Chinese leaders, making its
debut at the 1959 national day parade.
The value of Mr. Xi's state car is estimated at around $700,000, almost half of the value of the U.S. president's infamous Cadillac limo, known as
The Beast.
Right. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Coming up, the UAE is hardening its position on Israel's conduct in the West Bank.
More on that is coming up.
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ANDERSON: This hour in Washington, women who say they were sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell are appearing at a news conference
with two House members, trying to force a full House vote demanding the Trump administration now fully release the Epstein files.
Now, of course, this follows the release yesterday by a House Oversight Committee of tens of thousands of pages related to the Epstein
investigation that Democrats are dismissing as sham. Stephen Collinson joins us now.
And, Stephen, while we've been discussing the massive power plays in China, largely geared at Trump, you've argued Trump's own policies are, quote,
"making U.S. foes great again."
He is instead encircled in this massive Epstein controversy. I just wonder what you believe this says about the presidency.
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean, I think on the Epstein issue, it's worth stepping back a little and reminding people
what actually happened.
Trump, when he was campaigning for office, led this huge conspiracy theory that the government was covering up what really happened and the clients of
Jeffrey Epstein, this accused sex trafficker.
When his people came into office, people like attorney general Pam Bondi, people who had helped him found that conspiracy, they did a short
investigation and then said, well, there's nothing to see here. We're going to shut this down.
So this has created a huge conspiracy theory which is unusually hurting Trump within his own base. We always see controversy around Trump but we've
never seen something that splits the Republican supporters of the president in this way. So this is now overshadowing almost everything that Trump
does. It clearly makes him very angry.
[10:30:00]
One of the reasons it's got so much fuel is because he was a friend of Jeffrey Epstein in the 1980s and the 1990s and the early 2000s. So this is
haunting the president.
Now you have Democrats joining some renegade Republicans in the House, supporting the claims of some of Epstein's victims for all of the files to
be released.
I think the question today is whether the news conference with these victims that we're seeing on Capitol Hill is going to build political and
moral pressure that the government and the Justice Department finds impossible to resist to release all of these Epstein files, no matter what
they say.
ANDERSON: And I just wonder, as we look at these images -- and we will get to Capitol Hill as and when we start hearing from those gathered there.
I think you make a very good point.
Will this effort, this bipartisan effort make any difference at this point, given what we know about this Trump administration in the face of protest
demonstrations, you know, judgments by, you know, federal courts, suggesting that action, you know, that this administration is taking is
illegal.
You know, how in fact, you know, before we get -- before I come back to you, let's listen to Ro Khanna, the Democrat, on this.
REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA), OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE: Now you can -- people can speak when members of Congress are speaking. I just want to make sure that
the victims and survivors are going to be heard today.
I want to begin by thanking Brittany Henderson and Brad Edwards for their tireless work in the pursuit of justice.
And I want to thank Sarah Drury on my team for working with them.
Above all, I want to thank the survivors who are here today, whose courage and strength have brought us to this moment.
I want to thank my co-leads, congressman Thomas Massie and congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, for standing with survivors here today.
Today, as you can see, we're united in restoring trust in government. We're here not as partisans. We're here as patriots. We begin the work of
bringing this country together -- progressives, independents, moderates and, yes, MAGA supporters, to demand truth and justice.
A nation that allows rich and powerful men to traffic and abuse young girls without consequence is a nation that has lost its moral and spiritual core.
Americans are asking a very simple question.
How is it possible that, in the richest, most powerful country in the world, there are corrupt, special interest forces, both foreign or
domestic, that are preventing the release -- that have a stranglehold on our government and are preventing the release of the full Epstein files?
There is something that is rotten in Washington. Less than 1 percent of these files have been released. We are demanding today on the discharge
petition that all of the files be released.
We know we have 212 Democrats and we have four Republicans, courageous Republicans, like Thomas Massie, Nancy Mace -- who was so emotional
yesterday after talking to the survivors -- Congresswoman Boebert and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. We need just two more signatures to
force the release.
So we gather here on the steps of the Capitol to confront these corrupt forces. Today, we stand with survivors. We stand against Big Money. We
stand to protect America's children. That is really what this is about.
I now want to bring up my Republican colleague, Thomas Massie. He has shown so much courage, so much leadership. And I saw some people -- I say the
same thing about Marjorie Taylor Greene. She has shown so much courage on this issue.
I saw some people when I was coming here, calling her names. We've got to stop that. We've got to stop the partisanship on this issue. This is an
issue where they both have shown real courage and leadership and I appreciate them joining us today -- Congressman Massie.
REP. THOMAS MASSIE (R-KY): I want to thank my colleague Ro Khanna for co- leading this effort to bring transparency and justice for these victims. 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?
When these survivors speak, the Washington establishment is asking the American public to believe something that is not believable.
[10:35:05]
They're asking you to believe that two individuals created hundreds of victims and they acted alone and that the DOJ has no idea of who else might
have been involved, that nobody else did anything that rose to a criminal enterprise.
The American people know that's not true. Now the Speaker of the House just offered a fig leaf to my colleagues. They're going to vote on a non-binding
resolution today that does absolutely nothing.
I appreciate the efforts of my colleague James Comer, who's leading the Oversight Committee. They may find some information but they're allowing
the DOJ to curate all of the information that the DOJ is giving them.
If you've looked at the pages they've released so far, they're heavily redacted. Some pages are entirely redacted and 97 percent of this is
already in the public domain. So I'm calling on my colleagues, be one of the next two who sponsors this discharge petition.
I think it's shameful that this has been called a hoax. Hopefully today we can clear that up. This is not a hoax. This is real. There are real
survivors. 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. We're giving them a voice. And I want to close by thanking them. They are brave. I hope they encourage
other survivors to come forward and to tell their stories, not just of Jeffrey Epstein and Maxwell but anywhere in the country. This is -- this is
a message that we are sending. This is a litmus test.
Can we drain the swamp?
Are there people who are outside of the reach of the law?
I don't think there should be. So hopefully today we'll get two more signatures on the discharge petition. That's all we need.
And with that, I want to introduce the bravest woman in Congress, Marjorie Taylor Greene. I find it interesting that the three Republican cosponsors
are women. These are women standing up for women. And Marjorie was the first to do it.
And I think she deserves all of our gratitude for breaking that barrier and leading the way for the other Republicans. Hopefully they can find their
spines as well. And with that, I give you Marjorie Taylor Greene.
(APPLAUSE)
REP. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-GA): Good morning. This is my fifth year in Congress and this is the largest press conference that I've seen since I've
been here. And this is because this is an issue that matters so much to Americans.
This is an issue that doesn't have political boundaries. 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.
It's grieved me to watch the arguments and debates take place among my colleagues and even the administration. I think this is something that is
worth fighting for. You see the women behind me are you going to tell you stories that you've never heard before.
These are unimaginable horrors that they've lived with for their entire lives since they were very, very young. But these are also similar stories
that many children, teenagers, women and even men are enduring nightmares right now as we speak.
You see these women have been fighting since the 1990s. I heard one woman tell us yesterday since 1996. And they have carried with them shame. But I
want to tell you something. The shame 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 every single person that enabled it. The
shame falls on every single person that took money to continue it. And the shame falls on the people in power.
Over the past several decades that protected the monster, Jeffrey Epstein, and his cabal that continued a nightmare, those people deserve the shame.
And today, we are coming forward and we are going to fight like hell for these women because we have to fight like hell for those that are enduring
sexual abuse and are living in a prison of shame.
[10:40:00]
Anyone that is being abused, it is not your fault. You should live with no guilt or fear or shame.
All of the fault belongs to the evil people that do these things to the innocent. This is the most important fight we can wage here in Congress, is
fighting for innocent people that never received justice and the women behind me have never received justice. And do you want to know why?
It's because Jeffrey Epstein somehow was able to walk among the most rich, powerful people, not only in America but foreign countries.
Yesterday, I heard countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia and even Israel and other countries. The truth needs to come out and 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 we are demanding 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 in abuse.
This should never happen in America and it should never be a political issue that divides us.
And I want to thank Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie for doing something brave, crossing political boundaries for, in 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.
And 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.
And with that, I'd like to bring back Congressman Ro Khanna to start this important press conference. Thank you very much.
KHANNA: Thank you, Congresswoman Greene, for your courage and for being here.
And thank you again to Congressman Massie for co-leading it.
I now would like to introduce two people who have been fighting this for decades. They haven't had their voice heard. The victims haven't been
heard. They haven't just been on this in the last few months, they've been doing this in the wilderness for years and they are really models of
courage.
Bradley Edwards and Brittany Henderson, who are the attorneys for the victims, thank you for being here.
(APPLAUSE)
BRAD EDWARDS, ATTORNEY FOR EPSTEIN SURVIVORS: Thank you, Ro.
And Thomas Massie, I really appreciate you putting forth this discharge petition. It's tough to understand that we have to be here because this
doesn't seem like a partisan issue. This is an issue. Sex trafficking and sexual abuse transcends politics.
We, as Americans, expect equal protection under the law and there can be no doubt that Jeffrey Epstein received far greater protection than any of the
victims that he abused for years.
We've -- in 2008, Courtney Wild walked into my office because she was a part of a federal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, where all she wanted
was the government to talk to her. Little did she know the government had worked out a secret immunity deal for Jeffrey Epstein.
And we had to file Jane Does versus United States of America to prove that Jeffrey Epstein worked out an illegal non-prosecution agreement with the
government. That was 2008.
It took us 10 years battling the government pro bono for the judge to ultimately determine that the victim's rights were violated. The government
has mistreated them after Jeffrey Epstein mistreated them.
We then filed civil lawsuits against Ghislaine Maxwell, which has resulted in her being in prison. Our civil lawsuits led to her prosecution. We filed
lawsuits against Jeffrey Epstein, against his estate and against two financial institutions, JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank, that proved that they
provided -- knowingly provided the financial infrastructure for a sex trafficking operation.
Unfortunately, all of the documents and evidence that we have worked so hard to gather hide behind protective orders, confidentiality agreements
and bank secrecy laws. That is why this discharge petition is so important.
While we have seen the documents, you haven't. And when you see the documents, you're going to be appalled. And the American people deserve to
see everything.
When you sign this discharge petition, it should mean nothing is off limits. That means the documents in the possession of the CIA should be
made available.
[10:45:00]
Those in possession of the FBI going back decades should be made available. The SEC financial records in the possession of FinCEN should be made
available.
Everybody knows that evil flourishes in the darkness. Corruption flourishes in secrecy. It is time right now to make a difference for the women that
are behind me right now. They have been courageous and fought through this whole thing.
Whether you are a Republican or you're a Democrat, this one is an easy call. You're an American who cares about equal rights and equal protection
under the law. If you care about these women, if you care about our country and you care about this issue, this should pass with flying colors. I
really appreciate everybody being here.
BRITTANY HENDERSON, ATTORNEY FOR EPSTEIN SURVIVORS: Hi, good morning. My name is Brittany Henderson. And I think in addition to thanking the
wonderful congressmen and women who are here today, we need to thank the women.
And not just the women who are going to speak but the other women who are standing behind them, along with other lawyers, Sigrid McCawley, and people
who have been fighting for a very, very long time for the world to give this kind of attention to an issue that it should have had forever.
This administration has the opportunity to do what the past administrations did not do. This administration can either stand with the victims and stand
for the victims or it can continue to hurt the victims like has happened in the past.
We aren't here just to ask for transparency though, we're here too to ask for protection. The women here represent hundreds of other women who we
have spoken to, many of whom were trafficked from other countries, from Eastern European countries where women don't have the rights that we have
here.
Women don't have the protections that we have here and those women are terrified that their names will be released in these files.
The government won't know that they're victims to redact and protect them. So we ask that you, please, whoever is going to be in charge of redacting
these files and in charge of this transparency, do it in a way that protects the women brave enough to be here.
But also protects the women who are terrified that every day, when they turn the TV on, something bad is going to happen to them in Ukraine, in
Russia, in whatever country they live in, because no one is listening to them there.
So thank you for being here. Thank you for listening. And please protect these women while we seek transparency.
ANOUSKA DE GEORGIOU, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Good morning. My name is Anouska de Georgiou. And I stand before you today as a survivor of both Jeffrey
Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. I want to thank Congressman Massie and Khanna for their role in putting together this very, very important bill.
Every day of this journey toward healing has come at a profound cost to my mental health but I am here. I chose to come because this bill really
matters.
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 Giuffre, Carolyn Andriano and others who could not continue. Their voices mattered. Their stories must not be forgotten.
Accountability is what makes a society civilized. Equal opportunity and equal consequence for all. Consequences are not about punishment alone,
they exist to deter future harm, to protect vulnerable and to set a standard of justice.
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.
But transparency alone is not enough. Survivors need protection, resources and legal support. If this Congress is serious about justice, then let this
moment also affirm your commitment to provide victims with the legal aid they need to confront abusers, to navigate complex systems and to reclaim
their power.
Transparency must be matched by support or else too many victims will remain silent out fear and lack of access. The statistics demand action.
Nearly one in five women in America will experience rape or attempted rape in her lifetime.
[10:50:00]
Every 74 seconds, someone is sexually assaulted. Every nine minutes that person is a child.
These are not numbers, they are people, they are your daughters, your sons, your constituents, your friends. Statistically one in five of your families
will face this nightmare.
The days of sweeping this under the rug are over. We the survivors say no more. I want to help create a world where survivors of sexual abuse and
abuse of power can come forward safely.
And I ask Congress to join me in that effort, not only by passing this bill but by ensuring that those who stepped forward have legal support to face
their abusers and see justice done.
When Judge Berman gave Epstein survivors the chance to finally speak, the world listened. After so many years, survivors were heard. That moment was
historic and so is this moment.
For me, the turning point was when I had my daughter. And on the day she was born, I knew I had a responsibility to protect her and to protect all
children.
I have to use my voice, the voice that had been silenced by fear and shame for so many years. Make no mistake, my polished exterior is a shield hiding
a wound that still bleeds. But through this wound, I have found purpose to be part of lasting change in how we confront exploitation and abuse.
And 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.
I am no longer weak, I am no longer powerless and I'm no longer alone. And with your vote, neither will the next generation be.
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. Thank you.
ANNIE FARMER, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Hello. My name is Annie Farmer. And I was 16 years old when I was flown to New Mexico to spend a weekend with Epstein
and Maxwell.
That same year, 1996, my sister, Maria Farmer, reported what happened to me there, along with reporting her own assault at their hands and their theft
of sensitive photos of herself, of me and our younger sister that she had taken for her work as a figurative painter.
I am now 46 years old. 30 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.
We have never been told whether those images were found when they discovered a large amount of child sexual abuse material on his property.
As a psychologist, I understand that when the system's meant to protect us recreate the abuse cycle, the betrayal that occurs can be just as damaging
as the original trauma.
This happens when survivors of these crimes are not believed, when our wellbeing is not weighed as heavily as those who have more resources or
more privilege and when perpetrators of these crimes are given a platform rather than the survivors of them.
For so many years, it felt like Epstein's criminal behavior was an open secret. Not only did many others participate in the abuse, it is clear that
many were aware of his interest in girls and very young women and chose to look the other way because it benefited them to do so.
They wanted access to his circle and his money. Their choice to align with his power left those of us who had been harmed by this man and his
associates feeling very isolated.
I could never have imagined being here today and this chorus of support that we have all received. I have been sent so many notes and messages from
people with no direct connection to this case, who've expressed their solidarity with us.
And I believe that is because in part, as Anouska so explained so well, this is an extremely widespread issue of child sexual abuse, of sexual
exploitation, of sexual violence.
[10:55:00]
This affects almost every family in some way. From my conversations with women in these last few days and from all of the support that we've
received, it's very clear to me that we are not going away, 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 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.
A thorough public review of this information is an important step in presenting -- in preventing the type of systemic failures that have
occurred in this case and harmed all of us. An important step toward healing for those involved. Thank you.
MARINA LACERDA, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Hello, everyone. I'd like to say thank you, everyone, for being here today on this very powerful and special day
for all of us here.
My name is Marina Lacerda. I was Minor Victim 1 in federal indictment of Jeffrey Epstein in New York in 2019. I was one of dozen of girls that I
personally who know were forced into Jeffrey's mansion on 9 East 71 Street in New York City when we were just kids.
Today's the first time that I ever speak publicly about what happened to me. I never thought that I would find myself here. The only reason that I
am here is because it feels like the people who matter in this country finally care about what we have to say.
As an immigrant from Brazil, I feel empowered knowing that the little girl struggling to get by at 14 and 15 years old finally has a voice. For the
first time I feel like I matter as an American.
I was only 14 years old when I met Jeffrey. It was the summer of high school. I was working three jobs to try to support my mom and my sister
when a friend of mine in the neighborhood told me that I could make $300 to give an older guy a massage. It went from a dream job to the worst
nightmare.
Jeffrey assistant Lesley Groff would call me and tell me that I needed to be at the house so often that I ended up dropping out of high school before
ninth grade and I never went back.
From 14 to 17 years old, I went and worked for Jeffrey instead of receiving an education. Every day I hope that he would offer me a real job as one of
his assistants or something important.
I would finally have made it big as, like we say, the American dream. That day never came. I had no way no way out. I was -- until he finally told me
that I was too old. There are many pieces of my story that I can't remember no matter how hard I try. The constant state of wonder causes me so much
fear and so much confusion.
My therapist is 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 about 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.
We are here to support this bill today, not only for transparency but for the American people. But if the government is going to release these
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 respect from our government. While identifying information must be redacted to the public, it is equally
important to provide the victims themselves with unredacted information.
I will never forget when the FBI agent showed up in my door in 2008. Jeffrey Epstein hired a lawyer to represent me -- or more like to represent
him, I like to say.
END
