By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO
House Democrats are intensifying calls for the release of all remaining documents connected to the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein, arguing that full transparency is long overdue and essential for justice.
Survivors of Epstein’s trafficking ring have joined lawmakers in pressing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to act, saying too many unanswered questions remain more than four years after the financier’s death.
U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.-04) told the AFRO that his patience with the Justice Department has run thin.
“I can recall the attorney general a few months ago saying she had the list on her desk. They were going to release the files any minute then all of a sudden, it turned into, well the deputy attorney general wants to interview Maxwell,” Ivey said, referring to Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking in 2021.
“Disclosure, transparency, accountability, all make sense here,” he added.
For Ivey, the most significant moment in the ongoing fight for accountability came earlier this month, when survivors of Epstein’s network traveled to Washington, D.C., to confront lawmakers directly.
“The real powerful moment was when those women who were survivors of this human trafficking ring came to the U.S. Capitol and were able to step beyond the pain and the exploitation and the violence that they’ve gone through and say we think justice needs to be done here,” he told the AFRO.
On Sept. 3, nine women who say they were abused by Epstein stood on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, sharing painful testimony and urging the DOJ to release all remaining files.
The women said many victims remain afraid to speak publicly, citing threats, the risk of lawsuits, and the lack of protection they experienced in the past.
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas-30) told the AFRO that real justice requires more than sympathy. It requires systemic change.
“Number one, allowing those people not to continue to hide in the shadows would be one form of justice and outing them,” said the Texas lawmaker. “Number two, I think making sure that we fix what went wrong so that others that are currently suffering through similar systems do not end up facing the same type of pain.”
She added that listening to victims in real time is just as critical.
“Number three, I think that we need to make sure that when victims come forward, they are heard in that moment,” she added. “We know that people started coming forward – at least, from what we can tell as early as ‘94 – talking to the FBI, that’s another one of those loopholes that we’ve got to make sure that we literally tie down.”
While survivors continue to share their accounts, lawmakers in both chambers are battling over whether the files will ever see the light of day. In the House, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.-4) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.-17) have teamed up in a rare bipartisan effort to force a vote requiring the DOJ to release the records. To succeed, they will need 218 signatures, including support from at least six Republicans.
The push has been more contentious in the Senate. On Sept. 10, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) attempted a surprise move by attaching an amendment that would have required the DOJ to release all Epstein-related files within 30 days. The measure was narrowly defeated, tabled by a 51-49 vote, with Republicans maintaining their majority.
Rep. Ivey blamed the GOP directly for obstructing transparency.
“Republicans and the Trump administration stand in the way of the release of these documents,” the Maryland Democrat said.
Republicans, however, argue that full disclosure could damage the reputations of individuals who had no connection to Epstein’s crimes. Party leaders in both chambers have generally resisted sweeping releases of material, framing the effort as reckless and politically motivated.
Survivors and their allies strongly reject that defense. They insist that withholding the files only perpetuates secrecy and shields the powerful.
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