Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse have shared an emotional moment of solidarity, embracing after learning the US Senate passed the groundbreaking Epstein Files Transparency Act. This landmark move promises to unveil long-hidden documents related to the late financier's extensive abuse network.
Bracing for Backlash
In a powerful signed statement titled 'What we're bracing for', 28 victims revealed they are confronting serious threats to their safety. The group, comprising 18 named survivors and 10 using pseudonyms, disclosed they have already received death threats and other threats of harm since increasing their campaign efforts.
The women have formally requested that every federal and state law enforcement agency with jurisdiction investigate these threats and provide protection. Their statement expressed concern that the situation may escalate further as the Department of Justice prepares to release the files within the mandated 30-day period.
Campaigning for Truth
Several abuse survivors have intensified their campaigning in recent weeks, pushing relentlessly for the justice department to release comprehensive files about Epstein and his accomplices. Their efforts achieved a significant victory when rare bipartisan support, including from Donald Trump who dropped his opposition, saw the transparency bill signed into law.
Anouska De Georgiou, the first British woman to publicly allege abuse by Epstein, told BBC's Newsnight she has faced threatening behaviour since waiving her anonymity in 2019. She believes these threats are deliberately intended to silence victims from speaking out.
Confronting Dangerous Narratives
The survivors' statement also addressed concerning attempts to downplay the severity of abuse committed by Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. They specifically referenced recent comments from conservative radio host Megyn Kelly, who questioned whether Epstein qualified as a paedophile.
'We are already hearing efforts to suggest that victims who had reached the age of 18 were not really victims anymore,' the women stated. They strongly denounced this argument, explaining that vulnerability comes in many forms - from previous childhood sexual abuse and poverty to direct intimidation and violence.
The statement emphasised that all victims were targeted because of life circumstances that Epstein, Maxwell and their accomplices manipulated for their predatory purposes.
The survivors acknowledged their legislative victory but cautioned that 'the battle is far from over,' indicating they remain prepared for attempts to blame victims, incomplete document disclosures, and efforts to divide their community as they continue seeking full accountability.
