Testimonies of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse victims recounted on Capitol Hill

In a rally on Capitol Hill, survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse, including Virginia Roberts Giuffre and Marina Lacerda, joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to demand the release of federal records related to the convicted sex offender.

The Oversight Committee has issued dozens of subpoenas and plans for more witness interviews in the coming weeks as part of their ongoing investigation. A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pushing for a vote to release these records, aiming to bring transparency to the case and potentially hold more participants accountable.

Survivors argue that these records hold the keys to preventing future occurrences of such crimes. Virginia Roberts Giuffre, speaking at her first public appearance, stated that survivors need access to these files in order to heal. She rejected President Trump's characterization of these efforts as a Democratic hoax, emphasizing the importance of transparency.

Trump, however, has recently characterized the push for the release of these records as a political stunt. This comes amid allegations that he and other Republicans promised to release Epstein-related records during the 2020 campaign but are now facing accusations of covering up their relationship with Epstein.

A new splintering of the Republican party is occurring, with a small group led by Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie pushing for a bill to release the records. Massie, along with the survivor's brother Sky Roberts, was present at the rally.

There are concerns about Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted for sex trafficking and moved to a Texas minimum security facility. Making these files public could lead to more information about Maxwell's role in the network being uncovered.

Marina Lacerda, identified as Minor Victim 1 in Epstein's 2019 indictment, emphasized the need for transparency and the passing of the bill. She urged lawmakers to take action to prevent future abuse.

The investigation into Jeffrey Epstein started more than two decades ago, and the push for the release of these records continues as survivors and lawmakers seek justice and transparency.