Epstein survivor says DC underestimating how much Americans want his files released
WASHINGTON, DC: A Jeffrey Epstein survivor is sounding the alarm that the Justice Department could end up throwing a wrench in the gears despite President Donald Trump signing a law forcing the release of the Epstein files.
Jess Michaels, a survivor of Epstein’s abuse, spoke with MS NOW’s Alex Witt to lay out exactly why tempers are flaring and why DC should not underestimate how badly Americans want answers.
“I do want to start with the House Oversight Committee saying it will no longer depose Ghislaine Maxwell after her lawyers told the committee she would plead the fifth and not answer any questions. But it's coming as the Atlantic reports emails from her time in prison show she is getting preferential treatment and privileges. Are you surprised by this?” Witt asked.
“I don't think surprised is the word as much as distressed,” Michaels said. “I mean, the American people and Epstein survivors have just watched another sweetheart deal happen right in front of us.”
Epstein survivors shocked Senate moved so fast
Witt then brought up Michaels’ trip to Capitol Hill, where she and other survivors watched President Trump sign the bill forcing the release of the files.
“What about you and your fellow survivors? You were on Capitol Hill on Tuesday when the president signed that bill, releasing the documents. What were the emotions you felt that day?” she asked.
Michaels said the spirits were high, mostly because no one expected Washington to actually move at lightning speed.
“We were elated because we didn't expect the Senate to come along and vote unanimously that night,” she said.
She added, “We thought we still had several weeks of lobbying and talking to people so that they could actually hear our stories. So to have them just join in, we believe that that's because of the incredible support we've had from the American people standing behind us. I know I receive messages from survivors all the time that say they're with us and they are behind us. So it feels like a movement that was started around this horrible human, Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell, and it's turned into something much bigger.”
But she also pointed out that the bill allows the DOJ to withhold anything tied to criminal investigations. That’s the carve-out worrying people, including Democratic Rep Ro Khanna, who helped push the bill through Congress.
“What the American people want to know is who are the other rich and powerful men who abused young girls?" Khanna asked during a recent appearance on the show.
"Who are the other rich and powerful men who raped these women on Epstein's Island? That's what the American people want to know. And we know that there are other names. How do I know that? Because I've talked to the survivors. I've talked to their lawyers. They know that some of these names are in the file. They want them to come out.”
Epstein survivors demand no more delays
“Do you share his concerns?” Witt asked Michaels about Rep Khanna's remarks.
“We share his concerns, and we know that, like he mentioned, our attorneys have lots of information. They know names,” she said.
“We know that there are teams of third-party attorneys that are not associated with the case or with the government that are just waiting to comb through these files as they're coming out. So we know that we have a lot of support behind us. We also know that I don't think the American people are going to settle for any more delays, any more than we are.”
She then fired a warning shot at the DOJ.
“And so though it's a concern, I think everybody would like to be done with this case and see accountability and justice and make sure that nothing like this happens again. And I believe all of us, our patience is wearing thin. And I think that that's a little bit of underestimation by this administration because truthfully, the actions of this DOJ are now no different than the other four administrations before it. They're falling right in line. And we hope that the American people will be just as frustrated and distressed and concerned as we are,” Michaels said.
