As an organization dedicated to preventing sexual violence, we are alarmed by the continued secrecy and lack of accountability surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Our government is failing to release all of the evidence, including files that may implicate powerful individuals. This is not just a political scandal- it is a direct assault on justice, truth, and survivor safety. Without full transparency victims are denied closure, accountability is obstructed, and rape culture is reinforced.
What is Happening
Jeffrey Epstein, a wealthy financier, was accused of operating a child sex trafficking ring for decades, preying on numerous underage girls and women. His accomplice and former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted of sex trafficking, conspiracy, and transportation of a minor for illegal sexual activity, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in recruiting, grooming, and abusing these young victims.
Epstein was found dead in his jail cell in August of 2019. At the time, he was awaiting trial for federal sex trafficking charges. Although the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) concluded that he died by suicide, there are several concerning inconsistencies. Many believe his death was a murder to silence him and protect powerful individuals. Even his brother, Mark Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell, have stated they do not believe he died by suicide. “I do not believe he died by suicide,” Maxwell said, “In prison, where I am, they will kill you or they will pay – somebody can pay a prisoner to kill you for $25 worth of commissary.” The lack of transparency from authorities, including the failure to publicly release the full autopsy report, has only deepened suspicions.
Further compounding these concerns, the FBI released a surveillance video from Epstein’s jail cell during his death that has alarming discrepancies. Then-Attorney General William Barr and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino claimed the footage showed that no one entered Epstein’s area, supporting the suicide conclusion. However, the video does not provide a clear view of the entrance to Epstein’s cell block, directly contradicting official claims and raising serious questions about the thoroughness of the government’s investigation. Further, a CBS News investigative report, corroborated by forensic experts, found that the video is a screen recording, not raw footage, and was likely stitched together from two separate segments. Even worse, a minute of crucial footage is missing.
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s explanation for this “missing minute” and other inconsistencies has been contradicted by high-level government sources, suggesting that unedited copies of the video do not have this gap. The presence of an unidentified individual and inconsistencies in staff statements versus the video evidence further erode confidence in the official narrative.
Trump’s Cover-Up
There are clear indications that the Trump administration is complicit and incompetent, at best, or orchestrating an outright cover-up, at worst. Just a few weeks ago, Ghislaine Maxwell was quietly transferred from a low-security federal prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas – a significant and highly unusual upgrade for an inmate serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. This transfer occurred the week after she was interviewed by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who served as President Donald Trump’s former personal defense lawyer. Maxwell’s attorneys are openly seeking a pardon or commutation from President Trump in exchange for her cooperation, and Trump himself has repeatedly hinted at this possibility, stating he is “allowed to do it.”
During his presidential campaign, Trump promised to declassify and release the government’s Epstein files. In February, when asked by a Fox News interviewer about the purported Epstein client list, Attorney General Pam Bondi said, “It’s sitting on my desk right now to review.” Yet, the Justice Department has now completely reversed, stating that no such “client list” exists and that no additional files related to the investigation will be made public. This abrupt flip-flop has been met with widespread outrage and accusations of a cover-up. Especially damning, the DOJ told Trump his name was in the Epstein files in May. Despite initial promises to release the files, the administration is actively obstructing transparency.
Release the Files
Congress has the power to force the release of these files, but action has been insufficient thus far. The House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena the DOJ for all files related to the investigation of Epstein and Maxwell. The DOJ failed to meet the subpoena deadline of August 19th. The files they have sent are duplicates of existing public information.
The House Oversight Committee also subpoenaed Epstein’s estate for a long list of materials related to Epstein, including all references to any presidents or vice presidents. Epstein’s estate has until September 8th to comply.
In July, the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed Ghislaine Maxwell to testify before them on August 11th. Less than two weeks before the deposition, the date was postponed until “at least October.”
Senate Democrats on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee have invoked a rarely used law, which allows at least five senators to demand information from an executive agency. They formally requested all relevant documents from the DOJ and FBI by August 15th. The DOJ and FBI failed to send any documents. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Trump Administration broke the law by failing to comply with this deadline, saying, “We’ll take them to court ourselves.”
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, co-led by Representatives Ro Khanna (D) and Thomas Massie (R), is a pending bill that would mandate the Attorney General to release all DOJ documents related to Epstein within 30 days, while protecting victims’ safety. A discharge petition could be initiated to force a floor vote on this bill, requiring 218 signatures in the House. Senators Jeff Merkley (D) and Ben Ray (D) introduced a Senate counterpart on July 30th.
While some in Congress are pushing for transparency, others are working against them. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson ended the session early in July to silence calls for transparency. He has also spoken against the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Bigger Implications
The American public deserves full transparency. A staggering 79% of Americans want these files released, with a majority believing the government is covering up evidence. The ongoing Epstein fiasco isn’t Trump’s first, second, or even third snafu as a sexual abuser. Dozens of women have accused the president of sexual violence spanning over 5 decades.
The Trump administration is actively covering up his connections and potential criminal activity, including his history of sexual abuse and pedophilia. President Trump has a well-documented history of association with Epstein, including flying on his private jet, attending parties, and allegedly groping a victim in front of him. “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy,” Trump told New York magazine in 2002. “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”
Trump has made multiple, shifting claims about why their friendship ended, including that Epstein “stole” young women from his Mar-a-Lago spa, such as victim Virginia Giuffre. However, Giuffre and her family state that Ghislaine Maxwell targeted Virginia at Mar-a-Lago years before Trump’s alleged falling out with Epstein.
A sexually suggestive letter allegedly from Trump was included in Epstein’s 50th birthday book. Trump denies writing this and is suing the Wall Street Journal for reporting on it. These connections, combined with the administration’s sudden refusal to release information and the unusual circumstances of Maxwell’s prison transfer, raise profound questions about powerful men being protected.
Our Urgent Call to Action
Not releasing these files contributes to rape culture and normalizes pedophilia. It sends a dangerous message that powerful individuals can evade accountability for egregious crimes. This deeply undermines the progress of movements to prevent sexual violence. Further, it traumatizes survivors who feel their efforts to come forward are being erased and their suffering sidelined by politics. It reinforces our deeply flawed systems of justice and democracy that allow sexual violence to flourish without consequence. How can we trust our elected officials to pass laws preventing sexual violence if they won’t hold each other accountable for committing it?
We demand immediate and uncompromising action to ensure justice for Epstein’s victims and transparency for the American people:
- We call on the Trump administration, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the DOJ to immediately cease all obstruction and release all unsealed grand jury transcripts and related files concerning Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
- We call on the FBI to release all relevant documents and any unreleased camera footage related to Epstein, his death, and his network.
- We call for all released materials to redact only that which would deny victims their privacy and safety.
- We call on Congress to utilize every tool at its disposal, including continued subpoenas, lawsuits, and the swift passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. We urge all members of Congress to sign the discharge petition that will force a vote on this critical bipartisan bill.
- Finally, we demand that swift investigative actions be taken to ensure that all individuals implicated in Epstein’s network are held accountable. Justice must be served for the victims, whatever that may mean to them.
“We stand with all victims of Trump, Epstein, and Maxwell. After decades of anguish, and the tragic loss of Virginia Giuffre, justice is paramount. We are eternally grateful for the bravery, vulnerability, and selflessness of the many survivors who have shared their stories,” our Founder and CEO, Omny Miranda Martone, states.
“Action must not be partisan. The Epstein files are expected to expose politicians from both sides of the aisle. Sexual violence is not a Democratic or Republican issue. By choosing transparency and accountability for all abusers, Congress can pave the way to collective action preventing sexual violence for all victims across the country. Even if their perpetrator is the president.”
