Victims of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein will appear at a Capitol Hill news conference on Wednesday.
It comes as momentum builds in Congress to force the release of sealed files tied to Epstein’s decades-long sex trafficking scandal.
The press event, featuring survivors alongside Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), comes amid a bipartisan effort to use a procedural motion known as a discharge petition to compel a House vote demanding the Justice Department release the files.
Khanna warned ahead of the conference that “people are going to be outraged” once the victims speak publicly.
The move comes just as the House Oversight Committee released nearly 34,000 pages of Epstein-related documents.
The files include a Justice Department interview with Ghislaine Maxwell and videos from inside Epstein’s Palm Beach mansion.
“This is the most thorough investigation into Epstein and Maxwell to date, and we are getting results,” said Oversight Chair Rep. James Comer (R-KY).
But the release sparked backlash.
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), the top Democrat on the committee, claimed that nearly 97% of the documents were already public.
Massie dismissed the sudden document dump, saying:
“They haven’t given us anything. There’s nothing new here.”
He and Khanna accused leadership of trying to blunt their push to force a real vote on releasing the full Epstein files.
Khanna argued the victims’ testimony will cut through political gamesmanship.
“These victims haven’t spoken for decades,” Khanna said in a statement.
“When Epstein got that lenient plea deal, no one talked to the victims or their lawyers.
“My belief is, when the American people actually hear the victims for the first time, they are going to sympathize, their hearts are going to be broken, and all the victims are saying is for closure,” he said.
“There are a lot of other rich, powerful men, politicians, business leaders, who have committed abuse and who have not been held accountable,” Khanna added.
“That’s what we’re going to hear on Sept. 3, and people are going to be outraged, and I don’t see how, after that, the House can’t vote for the release of these files.”
Massie echoed the call, saying he hoped House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) would “listen to the pleas of these victims for justice and quit trying to block a vote on our legislation to release the Epstein files.”
The DOJ and FBI triggered outrage earlier this summer after announcing they had found “no evidence” of an Epstein “client list,” effectively closing the case.
The move infuriated many of President Donald Trump’s supporters, who had expected major revelations.
Some had even called for Attorney General Pam Bondi to be fired.
Khanna and Massie say they are close to securing the 218 votes needed to advance their petition.
“We’ve got 212 Democrats and 12 Republicans, including Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert,” Khanna said.
“Look, this is not about Donald Trump, and it’s not partisan.
“This is about justice for the victims of rich and powerful men who abused underage girls…
“In this country, people want transparency. They want accountability.”
Meanwhile, GOP leadership has introduced its own resolution to continue the Oversight Committee’s investigation, a move Massie blasted as “political cover” for lawmakers unwilling to back his bipartisan legislation.
Johnson shot back Tuesday night, saying:
“I would not put much stock into what Thomas Massie says.”
But the Speaker promised that “the House is going to do its job here, and you’re going to get maximum transparency.
“And we’ll let the American people decide.”
Epstein died in a federal prison in 2019 while awaiting sex trafficking charges.
Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in the scheme.
For years, speculation has swirled about who else may have been involved in Epstein’s network of wealthy, powerful figures.
Now, with victims preparing to go before cameras, Khanna and Massie believe the pressure on Congress and the Justice Department may finally force answers.
READ MORE – House Investigators Subpoena Epstein’s Estate for ‘Client List’ & Call Logs
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