Epstein survivors push for release of files in new PSA, say fight isn't political

Epstein survivors push for release of files in new PSA, say fight isn't political

Several women who survived abuse by Jeffrey Epstein have come together for a public service announcement video demanding that Congress release all files on the accused sex trafficker.

"It's a call to action," one of the women, Danielle Bensky, told NBC News on Sunday. "While we are Epstein and [Ghislaine] Maxwell survivors, we are standing for so many victims of sexual assault and of domestic violence, as well."

The PSA, produced by World Without Exploitation, directs the public to a link to send automated letters of support to their congressional leaders. It comes ahead of Tuesday's highly anticipated House vote on releasing those files.

"Many people scroll and they see our stories, and they want to find a way to advocate, and they're not really sure how," Bensky said. "We really want to tell people that you can get out there and you can do this for yourself and be a part of what's starting to really feel like a movement, in a way."

The video features several women holding photos of their younger selves at the ages they met Epstein, the prominent late financier who lived in wealthy and politically connected circles.

"There's about a thousand of us," a woman says in the video. "It's time to bring the secrets out of the shadows."

Image: Danielle Bensky (NBC News)

Epstein survivor Annie Farmer, whose sisterMaria Farmerwas the first woman to file a criminal complaint against Epstein, in 1996, stressed the release of the files is not a political issue but one that has been buried too long.

"Please remember that these are crimes that were committed against real humans, real individuals. This is not a political issue. This, this has been going on for decades," Annie Farmer said. "My sister Maria Farmer reported this under the Clinton's administration, right? There have been mistakes that were made in this case under the Bush administration. So many things have happened over the decades that were law enforcement failures in this case.

"This is not partisan. We're asking for you to stand with us now to release all of the files," she continued.

Bensky has said she was 17 and a budding ballerina in 2004 when Epstein sexually abused her at his Manhattan mansion.

"When you look at how long this has spanned, we have to do something about it. And it really is not political. It's never been political for us," she said.

Image: Annie Farmer

Both women were among a group of survivors whowrote a letterthanking Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., for backing the effort to release the Epstein files in adramatic split from her party line.

The women said that the tone of emails in atrove of Epstein-related documentslawmakers on the House Oversight and Reform Committee released last week didn't shock them and that they hope it signals a new era of transparency.

"I think it's the type of misogyny and classism and the tone of some of these emails that people were really disturbed by was, was something that we were all very aware of, was a part of this group and these types of conversations," Farmer said. "I think that it was actually nice to see other people looking into that world and being disgusted by it."

Epstein died by suicide in jail in 2019 as he was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Maxwell, his accomplice, wasconvicted in 2022 on federal sex trafficking chargesand is reportedly seeking to have her prison sentence commuted.

While survivors have repeatedly stressed the Epstein case shouldn't be politicized, it has been a political lightning rod on Capitol Hill.

President Donald Trump, who wasmentioned in some of the released Epstein emails, directed theJustice Department on Friday to investigate Epstein's involvement with financial institutions and political figureswhile taking aim at Democrats. Trump has denied any involvement in Epstein's crimes.

 

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