Victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell are speaking up once again in a second public-service announcement demanding to know why the names of perpetrators are being protected by the Donald Trump administration.
The Department of Justice released 3.5 million files in response to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by the president in November after public pressure mounted demanding transparency.
However, survivors and the public have scrutinized the files which seem to protect high-profile men instead of the victims.
A search of the 3.5 million files finds 4,732 results for Trump and 3,234 results for Clinton. However, in many cases, entire pages were blacked out or emails from likely pedophiles had the sender redacted, for no apparent reason other than to protect someone, and not the victim.
The Department of Justice said members of Congress will be able to view unredacted files this week. Co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Monday. However, it is expected that she will use the Fifth Amendment to remain silent.
The president has called the mentions of him in the files “a conspiracy.”
“I think it’s time now for the country to maybe get onto something else,” Trump said.
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before the committee but are pushing for a public hearing instead of a closed-door deposition.
“I have called for the full release of the Epstein files. I have provided a sworn statement of what I know. And just this week, I’ve agreed to appear in person before the committee. But it’s still not enough for Republicans on the House Oversight Committee,” Bill Clinton wrote on X.
“If they want answers, let’s stop the games & do this the right way: in a public hearing, where the American people can see for themselves what this is really about,” he wrote.
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In the spirit of transparency, the victims, through the new PSA, ask the DOJ to explain why millions of pages were withheld, why survivors’ names and identifying information are exposed and why perpetrators, many whom are high-profile and wealthy men, were protected.
Produced by World Without Exploitation, the PSA includes survivors with photographs of themselves as teenagers with black boxes over their mouths to symbolize the numerous redactions in what was released.
The PSA focuses on how victims are now “standing together.”
“Because she deserves the truth. Because we all deserve the truth.”
“We stand with survivors and their call to reveal the truth and hold accountable Jeffrey Epstein’s powerful network that enabled sexual exploitation and abuse for decades,” said Lauren Hersh, national director of World Without Exploitation. “We will not stop until survivors get the transparency and accountability they deserve.”
The women featured in the video include Lisa Phillips, Marijke Chartouni, Sharlene Rochard, Annie Farmer, Haley Robson, Ashley Rubright, Jena Lisa Jones, Wendy Pesante, Jess Michaels, Dani Bensky and Liz Stein.
The survivors have also prepared a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Many of the victims were also included in a PSA in November that focused on sharing the “full truth” with the public in advance of the vote to release the files by Congress. “Silence harms survivors.”
Trump’s popularity has plummeted in recent polling. Experts believe the administration’s handling of the Epstein files play a large role in the results.
Full PSA: ‘It’s time for the truth’
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Crystal Graham
