Epstein survivors push for justice, demand release of full files

Nine survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse are stepping forward together, saying they have found strength in numbers.

(NBC)- After years of silence and pain, nine survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse — and relatives of women he victimized — are stepping forward together, saying they have found strength in numbers.

“Alone we are afraid, together we are feared,” survivor Marikje Chartouni told NBC News in an exclusive interview. Another survivor, Wendy Avis, revealed she was just 14 when she was abused.

The women say their voices have been sidelined in the political battle over Epstein’s files. None of them, they add, has been contacted by the Department of Justice. “We haven’t been protected and we haven’t been informed,” survivor Liz Stein said.

Meeting with lawmakers this week, the survivors are pressing for more documents to be released and for the Justice Department’s investigation to be reopened. Jess Michaels called the handling of the case “a severe miscarriage of justice, a delay of accountability.”

On Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee released more than 30,000 pages of Epstein-related files subpoenaed from the Justice Department, though most of the material was already public. Now, a bipartisan petition is pushing for a vote to release the full trove of documents.

“We want to bring justice to every single person who is involved in the Epstein evils or the cover-up thereof,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), while also stressing the need to protect victims.

Survivors are also urging former President Trump to rule out a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted co-conspirator. They expressed frustration over the attention Maxwell has received, insisting the focus should remain on survivors and their stories.