Epstein Survivors Rally on Capitol Hill as Key Witness Speaks Out; Trump Dismisses Effort as “Hoax”

Washington, D.C., September 3, 2025 - Dozens of survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse converged on the U.S. Capitol today, urging Congress to release all documents related to the disgraced financier’s sex-trafficking investigation, while a central witness in the case for the first time publicly called for transparency. At the same time, President Donald Trump again characterized the push as a “Democrat hoax,” intensifying the partisan clash over the so-called Epstein files.

At a midday press conference hosted by bipartisan lawmakers and the advocacy group World Without Exploitation, survivors demanded the full unredacted release of the more than 30,000 pages of Justice Department documents subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee. “This is far beyond…likely one of the biggest cover-ups in the history of the United States,” declared survivor advocate Julia Roberts, calling on Congress to “stand with the people…stand with the survivors, and we need to tell them we believe you”.

Moments later, President Trump, speaking in the Oval Office, dismissed calls for transparency as “a Democrat hoax that never ends” and insisted that “we have the most successful eight months of any president ever,” shifting the conversation away from Epstein. His remarks came as survivors extended an invitation for him to meet them on Capitol Hill to witness their testimony firsthand.

Meanwhile, in her first public remarks since providing key evidence in Epstein’s 2019 indictment, Marina Lacerda-identified in court filings as “Minor-Victim 1”-urged lawmakers to release all records relating to Epstein to aid victims’ healing and inform the public. “I would like for them to give all the victims transparency…release these files,” Lacerda told ABC News, adding that openness was essential “not only for the victims, but for the American people”. She recounted being approached by federal investigators in 2008, only to see Epstein secure a secret non-prosecution agreement, and said revisiting her testimony years later was crucial to building the case that charged him with sex trafficking.

As Congress returns from recess with a September 30 funding deadline looming, survivors and their allies say they will press forward with a discharge petition to force a vote on a resolution demanding full disclosure of the Epstein files, intensifying pressure on both the White House and Capitol Hill leadership.