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U.N. Security Council Approves U.S.-Backed Plan for Gaza; Soon: Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Meet at White House; Trump Expected to Push MBS to Normalize Ties with Israel; Epstein Survivors Speak Ahead of Vote on Release of Files; Epstein Survivors Push for Removing Politics from Files Issue. Aired 9-10a ET
Aired November 18, 2025 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Live pictures of Capitol Hill and the White House. It is 09:00 a.m. in Washington, where two major
stories are playing out. A key House vote on whether to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. And U.S. President Donald Trump set to host the Saudi Crown
Prince.
It is 06:00 p.m. in Abu Dhabi here in the UAE. I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching "Connect the World". Well, the stock market in New York opens
about 30 minutes from now. Do keep a key eye on these markets. This is the situation with the futures and the indications at least at this point, half
an hour out after these markets to open weaker today.
Much to discuss, and we will do that at the bottom of the hour when those markets open. We want to start this hour with what is a major day for
diplomacy in this region with potential reverberations across the globe. A highly anticipated meeting at the White House between U.S. President Donald
Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, starting in just a few hours.
While the Crown Prince is not officially the Saudi head of state, his appearance at the White House comes with all the trappings of a state
visit, including a military band we'll be playing at the welcoming ceremony and a black-tie dinner this evening. Well ahead of today's meeting, the
president announced what would be a major arms sale to the kingdom. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: No, I am planning on doing that -- You've been a great ally. They've got to like us very
much. Look at the Iran situation. What we did in terms of obliterating, you know, there, we obliterated their nuclear capability. Yeah, I will say that
we will be doing that. We'll be selling F-35 --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, President Trump also hailing a U.N. Security Council vote approving a U.S. drafted resolution which authorizes elements of his 20-
point peace plan for Gaza. That Gaza resolution passed 13-0, with Russia and China abstaining but declining to use their veto power.
It calls for the establishment of a quote, board of peace as a transitional governing authority for Gaza. President Trump has said that he will chair
that board. It also includes the creation of a temporary international stabilization force, which the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. says will
include many peacekeepers from Muslim majority nations.
Notably, the resolution also contains a reference to Palestinian statehood, but does not provide a timeline for it. Look, we've got a lot to unpack
here with Kevin Liptak, who is at the White House for you, Nic Robertson is in Jerusalem. And so many of the stories that certainly we've set up here,
colliding today with this event in Washington, a pivotal moment for U.S.- Saudi relations.
Nic, stand by. I want to start with you then in Washington. Kevin, and what we can expect today in terms of events and what the White House is hoping
to achieve with this visit?
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yeah, and I'll just start with the atmospherics, which you touch on slightly. This is really a state
visit in everything but name. Of course, the Head of State of Saudi Arabia is the 89-year-old King Salman.
Mohammed bin Salman is the Crown Prince, and certainly the day-to-day leader of that country. And you do see the White House taking the
diplomatic trappings to really a level that we have not seen so far in this administration. So, you've heard the bands warming up on the South Lawn
this morning.
There will be a cannon salute this evening, a black-tie dinner that, in any other circumstance, would be called a state dinner. And this is really kind
of a return to the diplomatic fold for Prince bin Salman after a number of years sort of out in the cold when it comes to diplomacy and the United
States.
You know, his last time here was in 2018 that same year was the year that Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi dissident journalist, was killed at a Saudi
diplomatic compound in Turkey. And the American CIA assessed that Prince Mohammed bin Salman was responsible for that.
He has denied all responsibility, but it did lead to a period, essentially, where he was not welcome in Washington. But even in the Biden
Administration, you began to see that thawing somewhat when President Biden went to Saudi Arabia, he fists bumped the Crown Prince he was attempting to
get Saudi Arabia to turn on the oil that was mostly unsuccessful.
[09:05:00]
Now it seems clear that Saudi Arabia and Prince bin Salman are too powerful to ignore in a lot of ways. And President Trump seems ready and willing to
welcome him with the full diplomatic display here at the White House. Now under discussion when the two men sit down in the Oval Office, certainly,
security will be a top priority.
And the sale of those F-35 fighter jets, which the president confirmed yesterday that he will allow to move forward, that could cause some
concerns in Israel, which at this point is the only country in the Middle East that has those fighter jets at this moment, and they might be
concerned that this could potentially erode their military edge.
But President Trump clearly believes that this will go a long way in securing the U.S.-Saudi relationship. I think you will also see the two men
discuss a new defense agreement. Our understanding is that it stops short of a full treaty, which would require ratification in Congress, but it will
go a step further in sort of solidifying the security ties between Washington and Riyadh.
I think for President Trump, his goal with Saudi Arabia overall is to get them to join the Abraham Accords, to allow them to normalize relations with
Israel. There's no sort of belief inside the White House that, that will be finalized today, but it will be under discussion.
Of course, Saudi Arabia has said that a condition for doing that is a clear pathway for Palestinian statehood, which at this point just doesn't seem to
exist. But clearly, President Trump, having brokered a ceasefire in the Gaza war, believes that now is the time to renew those discussions, and he
has made explicit that he expects that to happen before he leaves office.
So certainly, a topic for the two men to discuss today, if not one that they are expected to finalize, Becky.
ANDERSON: Good to have you, Kevin, thank you, and back to you as we move through the next couple of hours. Earlier, I spoke with Ali Shihabi, an
Author and Expert Commentator on Saudi Affairs, on the issue of normalization with Israel and other key issues that are likely to be
discussed and agreed on today ahead of the Crown Prince's visit.
He wrote in an op-ed for "The Washington Post", that quote MBs, the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, often known as MBS, has been clear,
normalization with Israel can only succeed if tied to real progress towards a Palestinian state. Well, I asked him, what real progress will look like,
or should look like, as far as the kingdom is concerned, have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALI SHIHABI, AUTOR-COMMENTATOR OF POLITICS AND ECONOMICS OF SAUDI ARABIA: Real progress will be defined as, you know, entering phase two of the Gaza
Accords, bringing in an international force, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and sort of concrete steps taken towards recognizing a Palestinian
state, and putting in place the machinery to move towards that objective.
ANDERSON: Would you describe the Crown Prince's steadfastness on this Palestinian issue, and it being too early to announce normalization at this
point? Would you put that down as creating friction with Donald Trump at this point or not?
SHIHABI: Look, Donald Trump, when he was in Riyadh last time, and even stated it publicly to the prince. He said, I know you will do it on your
own time. So, he understands that the kingdom has its regional and domestic political considerations. The president will say what he wants to say
sometimes, but I think deep down, he understands that there has to be concrete, irreversible steps in that regard.
There will be no announcement of normalization during this trip. We have to go through stage two of the Gaza process. We have to get a machinery in
place that the Israelis can't wiggle out of that moves us towards a Palestinian state, before the kingdom can even start any activity in that
regard.
ANDERSON: All right, let's talk about what is likely to happen in terms of sort of tangible results on this trip. What can the kingdom expect in terms
of defense, Ali?
SHIHABI: That core of the of the visit will be around a security agreement signed between America and Saudi Arabia, which will bring military
coordination, defense arms supply, all very much more coordinated and closer. So, I think that's the most important component that will come out
of the visit.
There will also be a nuclear -- civilian nuclear component. There will be agreements on AI, there will be agreements on rare earths, there will be
agreements on mining, on natural gas.
[09:10:00]
ANDERSON: Just want to have a look at the AI file. Will the Crown Prince be asking for the export of significant chips?
SHIHABI: Yes, very much so. I mean, the kingdom is going to take a big bet on data centers and on starting to build an ecosystem for AI in the region.
It's working in close cooperation with all the major American players. Many of them are investing in the kingdom.
The kingdom is already an investor in many of them, and chips are an integral part of that. So, I expect that to be part of the agreements that
are signed.
ANDERSON: Saudi has become a key strategic partner for Washington, in what many describe this as this sort of U.S.-China great power competition. Can
you just explain how the sort of deals that we might see play into that framing?
SHIHABI: Rare earths are important, because at the moment, China's is one of the only suppliers, but Saudi Arabia has a capacity to supply that also.
But you know, Saudi Arabia maintains a very solid relationship with China. China is a major purchaser of Saudi oil, and that close relationship will
continue.
There are certain issues that concern the Americans about technology sharing, particularly when it comes to defense equipment and things like
that, that the kingdom is bearing in mind. But at the end of the day, the kingdom, you know, as a middle power in the Middle East, will always
maintain a solid relationship with China, but looks upon America as its strategic partner, really, in, you know, economically and militarily, in
security wise and in the region.
ANDERSON: In your op-ed, in "The Washington Post" over the weekend, you address the current criticism in some circles of Saudi Arabia's spike in
executions, which you say, and I quote here, understandably strike international observers as draconian. How much appetite is there genuinely
for legal reform in the kingdom?
SHIHABI: It's not a question of appetite. Legal reform has been a top priority for the Crown Prince. And I mean, this is something that has been
ongoing for a number of years. The whole legal system is being turned upside down. It's being codified. Judges are being trained.
Laws are being modernized. It's a very long, arduous, difficult process. You can't just come in and fire the whole legal system. You have to retrain
them. That takes time. You have to reconcile Sharia law with more modern legal concepts. Now there are ideological differences, of course.
There are people who are against capital punishment, and Saudi Arabia suffers from a very big drug problem. As a result, it pursues draconian
policies if you want to fight that, and that gets criticized globally. But you know, people haven't come up with a better solution, about how to fight
the drug war.
ANDERSON: Finally, to your mind, what does the Crown Prince hope to achieve ultimately?
SHIHABI: Ultimately, the trip itself is a win, because, you know, the relationship began to improve dramatically in the last year and a half of
the Biden Administration on an institutional level that carried over very easily into the Trump Administration with the added element of a personal
relationship between the Crown Prince and President Trump.
It's being treated as a state visit in Washington, even though the Crown Prince is the head of government, he's not a head of state, and the
symbolism of that drives home a point really about how close this relationship has become.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And more on the Crown Prince's trip to Washington later in the show, two key news stories we promised you out of the city today, and we
want to take you live now to Capitol Hill, where a group of lawmakers and Epstein survivors are speaking. Let's listen in.
REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): -- by the American people with respect, of course, Congressman Massie myself and Congresswoman Greene would be happy to answer
questions after that. With that, let me introduce the survivor who has helped organize a lot of this and will be introducing telling her own story
and introducing the other survivors.
Haley Robson, thank you for your courage and leadership.
HALEY ROBSON, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Absolutely. Thank you. Oh, good morning. A little chilly, coming from Florida. Not used to it. I want everybody to
take a look. I know everybody sees us today as grown adults, but we are fighting for the children that were abandoned and left behind in the
reckoning.
This is who you're fighting for. This is who Congress is fighting for. This is who the House of Representatives are fighting for, and hopefully the
Senate will fight for us too. I want to kick this off, right, and I want to address Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna.
[09:15:00]
I want to express my gratitude for all three of you. And I know Ro Khanna we spoke earlier this isn't an incredible thing that I'm watching as a
Republican, and this is non-political, but for you to go against your own party and to be ostracized, there's no place for political violence.
There's no place for intimidation. And I can say firsthand, stepping out against Epstein and his crimes against children, we have all experienced
that ourselves. So, for you to knowingly put yourselves at risk and put your career at risk is unbelievable to watch, and we are so grateful.
I also want to make a proposition for Marjorie Taylor Greene, because you've been an advocate for this. If you decide to read those names on the
House floor for immunity, I will be more than happy. No security needed. I will stand beside you. I will hold your hand.
I will hold your coat in solidarity with you. And on top of that, I did talk to Pramila Jayapal, who said she would be more than happy to read
those names too, on the floor with all of us. It's time that we pull it. We put the political agendas and party affiliations to the side. This is a
human issue.
This is about children. There is no place in society for exploitation sexual crimes or exploitation of women in society. There's no room for it,
guys, we're not having it. And to the President of the United States of America, who is not here today. I want to send a clear message to you,
while I do understand that your position has changed on the Epstein files, and I'm grateful that you have pledged to sign this bill.
I can't help to be skeptical of what the agenda is. So, with that being said, I want to relay this message to you. I am traumatized. I am not
stupid. I am traumatized. I am not stupid. You have put us through so much stress, the lockdowns, the halt of these procedures that were supposed to
have happened 50 days ago.
The Adelita Grijalva, who waited to get sworn in and then get upset when your own party goes against you, because what is being done is wrong. It's
not right. For your own self-serving purposes, this is America. This is land of the free, land of the free in 1863 we have a woman on top of the
capital building represent freedom.
I do not feel free today. I don't know if the women behind me feel free today. So, I am begging every member of Congress, every representative, to
step up and choose the chaos, Choose the survivors, choose the children, protect the children, all children. You protect all of us equally. Thank
you very much for your time. Following that, Lisa Phillips will be the next survivor.
LISA PHILLIPS, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Good morning. My name is Lisa Phillips. It's an honor to stand here again for something America is finally united
on, the immediate release of the entire Epstein files, in a divided nation, this is one demand we all share. Last time I stood here, I made a promise
to all survivors watching, if those in power refused to release the truth, we would start uncovering it ourselves.
For anyone who doubted that that moment has already arrived. Since that day, more survivors across the country and around the world have reached
out, text, emails, DMs, first-hand accounts and evidence. Many are women who were abused or trafficked through the international modeling pipeline
Epstein built.
Promising visas, apartments, opportunities, futures, while exploiting their dreams for abuse. Most are still terrified to speak publicly, because the
men involved are powerful. They're connected, and as we know, they're protected. For too long, survivors have watched others speak for us.
And while we are grateful for our allies in Congress on both sides, we've realized something this fight belongs to us. We lived it, and we know the
truth, and we will not wait quietly for institutions to decide when we're allowed to speak. The survivors now coming forward have entrusted us with
their stories.
We are sharing that information with the proper authorities, and when it can safely be made public, it will be. So today, we are launching something
historic. The first national survivor led political movement in America, nonpartisan, laser focused on exposing the systems, the loopholes, power
structures and silencing mechanisms that have protected predators for far too long.
[09:20:00]
We are stepping directly into the halls of power, into the political arena. We will help rewrite laws that failed us and build protections for our
nation's children together targeted by sexual exploitation. Together today, survivors begin our own fight, the survivor revolution. And we intend to
change this nation for the better.
If you're a survivor who wants to join us, please reach out. And to anyone who benefits from the current system, intentionally or not, remember this
alone yes, we are afraid, but together, we are feared. Thank you.
JENNA-LISA JONES, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Hello, everybody. I am Jenna-Lisa Jones, and just as Haley, I would just like to give her a little reminder
that this was me at 14 years old. I was a child. I was in ninth grade. I was hopeful for life and what the future had held for me. He stole a lot
from me by, at 14.
So just a little reminder there for everybody. Sorry. So, I just want to start out by saying thank you for all of you for being here today. I want
to start by expressing my deepest gratitude to the members of Congress who have stood with us, the survivors in demanding the transparency and
justice.
Your support is a signal that this institution can still serve the American people. This issue was never one that should have divided us the way it
has. In fact, it should have united us. Sexual abuse is not a Republican issue this it is not a -- or democratic issue. It is not a -- it is also
not a hoax.
We are here as American survivors of a man who used his wealth and power to hurt young girls and women. The world should see the files to know who
Jeffrey Epstein was and how the system catered to him and failed us. Emotionally this process has been distressing.
First, the administration said it would release everything, and applauded President Trump for that. Then it fought to release nothing. Now that --
now that, that checks and balances of our dumb democracy have worked, and the bill is getting passed to release the files, we are hearing the
administration say they intend to investigate various Democrats who were friends with Epstein.
I beg you, President Trump, please stop making this political. It is not about you, President Trump. You are our president. Please start acting like
it. Show some class. Show some real leadership, show that you actually care about the people other than yourself. I voted for you, but your behavior on
this issue has been a national embarrassment.
It is time to take the honest moral ground and support the release of these files, not to weaponize pieces of the files against random political
enemies that did nothing wrong, but to understand who Epstein's friends were, who covered for him, what financial institutions allowed his
trafficking to continue?
Who knew what he was doing, but was too much of a coward to do anything about it? Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were able to recruit and
abuse young girls and women, then the country will learn nothing, and has horrible history will repeat itself if we do not do something about this.
Thank you to the brave congressmen and women who have stood by us and recognize our side is the American side, and we should all be proud once
again to be Americans. I want to just extend, my thank you so much to all three of you very, very much. The first time we were here listening to
people yell shame at you.
And when she was here in support of us, really hit home and spoke some volumes, and I just very much appreciable of your support, and we stand by
you. Don't let any of them bully you. We're here for you. Thank you, guys.
MARINA LACERDA, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Wow. Good morning, everyone. Thank you all so much for coming together today and taking the time to listen to us.
[09:25:00]
Your presence means the world, and it shows commitment to understanding and supporting survivors and Americans. I stand before you today with a heavy
heart. I originated from Brazil, and I come -- I came to the United States when I was eight years old. I was only 14 when I first encountered Jeffrey
Epstein.
And my daughter is now almost at that age, at 14, the only things she should be concerned with are going to school, practicing at her
cheerleading competitions and enjoying her time with her friends and family. She should not have to bear the burden of worrying about being
manipulated or exploited.
At this age, she is still a child, and no child should ever have to face such threats. I also want to address a trouble state -- a troubling
statement made by a prominent figure on a major platform who suggested that a 14-year-old should not be considered victim of pedophilia.
This is a dangerous and incorrect notion. When we talk about how children at 14 should still be treated as children. I ask you to look at the young
people around you. Remember when you were that age? Do you think you should have been responsible for being groomed?
Put yourselves in our position when we were young. I'm here today not to just share my story, but to call on all of you to help make a difference.
We need to support to push for the Transparency Act and release the Epstein files. Please reach out to your congress members and senators and urge them
to support this crucial legislation.
The truth is something that we all deserve, and it is vital for safety and protection of the future of generations. Think about all the young people
in your life, your daughters, your nieces, your friends. Let's stand together and ensure that they grow up in a world where they are safe and
valued.
I often wondered, why did this happen to me? And then I realized, God only gives you what you can handle. I'm here for a purpose, and that purpose is
to make a difference today. So, let's stand together to protect our children and our peace. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good morning. I want to say a few things before I begin. My speech may not be great. It was thrown together last minute, as I
only came here. Decided Friday, when one of us, who has spoken several times, decided she couldn't come because of the threats, she was too
scared.
So, I want to say, when you threaten one of us, you're threatening all of us. We are together now, and that's never going to change. This is me at 16
when I met Jeffrey Epstein. Now sorry, it is an honor to stand here before the American people. However, I shouldn't have to stand here at all.
I'm here because as a child, I was pulled into Jeffrey Epstein's world, a world built on exploitation and manipulation of innocence and the
protection of powerful men and women who believed that they were untouchable. Today, we'd rather be preparing for the holidays.
We'd rather be at home with our families, baking with our children and decorating the Christmas tree as we try to move past this horrific moment
that has impacted our entire adult lives. However, that's not possible, because it's become something it should have never been political and
sensationalized.
The truth is simple, we were victimized as children and failed repeatedly by the very system that was supposed to protect us. That's why we stand
here today to demand justice and accountability, not just for Epstein and his crimes, but for every predator and every enabler who participates in or
protects abusers.
The Epstein case was gravely mishandled, consistently and deliberately over many years. Epstein could have been stopped decades ago, but instead, he
was able to continue his abuse, even during his sweetheart deal, yes, with his ankle monitor on and beyond, a deal that protected him and silenced us
while I was a child fighting to survive, what happened to us?
Federal prosecutors were negotiating ways to shield powerful adults, and the failures didn't stop there. Our civil cases were met with hostile
judges and delay tactics intimidation and PR campaigns designed to smear us in the public eye. We were treated as problems to be managed instead of
victims to be protected.
[09:30:00]
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 the 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 travel 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 this 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 your -- our story never leaves us, but the choice that
you make to pass this bill, your career is in front of you, and that choice will follow you. Everybody will know. So, thank you.
DANIELLE BENSKY, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Hello, everybody. My name is Danielle 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 yearlong cycle of abuse. The last time I was here in one 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 beautiful mosaic of energy and passion and
love and life.
I am one story of a 1000 you think of that number 1000. I spoke of how big our hopes and dreams once were, and I talked about how they were completely
shattered at the hands of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein. Now I look at this amazing community behind me.
[09:35:00]
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 and 10 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 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 nonpartisan 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 request 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 coconspirators.
And then transferred Ghislaine Maxwell into a prison camp, where is what that she's receiving special treatment. This is not an issue of a few
corrupt Democrats or a few corrupt Republicans. This is a case of institutional betrayal, because these crimes were not properly investigated
so many more girls and women were harmed.
[09:40:00]
My sister, because of her bravery, was repeatedly threatened and lived in fear with dire consequences for her health and her career. 30 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, VIRGINIA GIUFFRE'S BROTHER: Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed members of Congress and everyone gathered here today, 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 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 force complicity, a betrayal of self that was crafted by her abusers.
But I stand here today 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. These survivors like Virginia have
transformed into mothers and strong women, fierce in the face of adversity.
[09:45:00]
Many of them have daughters the same age they were when they face 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 CVRA 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 acknowledgement. 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.
JESS MICHAELS, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: This is me when I met Jeffrey Epstein in 1991. I always share the date when I talk about my story, because people
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, not for us and not for the generations that will live with the
consequences of what they choose now.
[09:50:00]
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, are told that our
pain was exaggerated or fabricated. Let me be clear, this is not a hoax.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it's not.
ROCHARD: 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.
REP. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-GA): Thank you.
ROCHARD: 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.
Instead, I was intentionally groomed and became part of an international model sex trafficking ring that was led by Jeffrey Epstein.
[09:55:00]
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 and 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 are
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.
Well, hello, everyone, and I want to first say thank you for your ongoing leadership. I know it must not be 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?
TERESA HELM, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: So, this was me at 22 years old. I was not a child. Technically, 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.
This set sets a stage. This sets a stage for voices, survivor voices to get spoken over and drowned out by the political darts whizzing by --
END
