Release the Files: What Survivors Told Congress Today
What was said on the steps, why the petition matters, where the count stands.
Content warning: This report includes descriptions and first-person accounts of sexual violence.
At a glance
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse, alongside bipartisan lawmakers and victims’ attorneys, held a Capitol news conference urging Congress to force full disclosure of federal “Epstein files.”
A rare House discharge petition led by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is within striking distance. Public tallies and the Clerk’s page indicate four Republicans have signed so far — Massie, Nancy Mace, Lauren Boebert, and Marjorie Taylor Greene — and leaders say they need two more Republicans to trigger a vote.
Survivors condemned the transfer of Ghislaine Maxwell to a federal prison camp and demanded she remain under maximum security.
The House Oversight Committee released more than 33,000 pages of documents this week, but survivors and lawmakers called those files incomplete and heavily redacted, reiterating the demand to release all records.
Why this matters now
The mechanism: A discharge petition lets a House majority bypass leadership to force a vote. It requires 218 signatures, after which a discharge motion comes to the floor on a set “discharge day.” It is cumbersome by design.
The numbers: As of this afternoon, public counts indicate Democrats are on board in large numbers and four Republicans — Massie, Mace, Boebert, Greene — are listed by the Clerk as signers, leaving two additional Republicans needed to compel a House vote.
The backdrop: The GOP-led Oversight Committee’s release of >33,000 pages Tuesday did not resolve the dispute; critics say the tranche is largely known material with redactions. Survivors and co-leading lawmakers insist only a full release can end speculation, expose enablers, and establish public trust.
The story in order: what was said on the Capitol steps
Opening letters and loss
A survivor read a message from Juliet Bryant: “It’s time for the truth to come out… There is strength in numbers and we will do it together.”
Annie Farmer then read remarks from her sister Maria Farmer, recalling her 1996 report to the FBI after assaults “in two different locations” and being “held… at Wexner’s estate,” and alleging that Ghislaine Maxwell “stole photos… and twisted them into child sexual abuse materials.”
Maria’s statement continued: “In 2006, the FBI demanded my testimony… promising justice, but failed again. For 30 years, I fought not only sex traffickers, but a federal government that has enabled them… After three decades of failure, I am suing them for answers.”
Annie, in her own voice, widened the frame: “We have a huge widespread issue with child sexual abuse… and abuse of power… It requires… coming together [and] education so people know the signs… I didn’t recognize when I was being… lured into this world.”
“We begin the work of bringing this country together”
Co-lead Rep. Ro Khanna opened with a call for unity: “We’re here not as partisans… We begin the work of bringing this country together… to demand truth and justice.” He said “less than 1%” of files are public and declared, “We need just two more signatures to force the release.”
What it means: Khanna’s “two more” aligns with independent reporting today that the petition needs two additional Republicans to reach the 218 threshold for a discharge motion.
Greene’s message to colleagues
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene framed the moment around accountability, not partisanship: “The shame does not fall on these brave, courageous women. The shame falls on every single person that turned a blind eye… [and] the people in power… that protected… Epstein.” She thanked Khanna and Massie “for doing something brave,” and noted that Mace and Boebert had signed the petition, urging colleagues to “choose every path for justice… and transparency.”
Attorneys: “The government mistreated them after Epstein mistreated them”
Victims’ attorney Bradley Edwards traced the legal arc back to 2008, when Courtney Wild learned of a secret non-prosecution agreement: “We had to file Jane Does v. United States… It took us 10 years… for the judge to determine that the victims’ rights were violated.” He said civil suits showed banks provided the financial infrastructure for the trafficking operation, yet key evidence remains sealed behind “protective orders… confidentiality agreements, and bank secrecy laws,” which is why the discharge petition is “so important.”
“There is no hoax. The abuse was real.”
During Q&A, a survivor addressed the national conversation without repeating any political figure’s words: “I cordially invite you to the Capitol to meet me in person so you can understand this is not a hoax. We are real human beings. This is real trauma… Please humanize us… There is no hoax. The abuse was real.”
Maxwell transfer draws condemnation
Asked about Ghislaine Maxwell’s reported transfer to a minimum-security prison camp, a survivor replied: “We were horrified… She… participated in the abuse.” On stage earlier, survivors demanded that “[Ghislaine] Maxwell must remain in a maximum security prison… No leniency, no deals.”
Context: Federal authorities have confirmed Maxwell’s transfer to the Bryan, Texas prison camp. Survivors’ objections mirror broader questions about consequences for enablers.
“Unseal all the documents”
One survivor, addressing rumor cycles and delays, said: “Every single time a new conspiracy gets circulated… we the survivors are suffering… Maintaining the real truth in secrecy only allows for conspiracy theorists to tell lies… Unseal all the documents.”
Another survivor, Lisa Phillips, announced a survivor-led initiative: “We… have been discussing creating our own list… together as survivors, we will confidentially compile the names we all know who are regularly in the Epstein world… done by survivors and for survivors.”
“Power only recognizes power”
The closing tone was resolve. One advocate told the crowd: “Your voice is important, but power only recognizes power… and we all have been betrayed.”
Extended quotes you may have missed
“I reported Epstein [and] Maxwell… to the FBI in 1996 after they assaulted us… and held me captive at Wexner’s estate.” — Maria Farmer, via Annie Farmer.
“For 30 years, I fought not only sex traffickers, but a federal government that has enabled them… I am suing them for answers.” — Maria Farmer, via Annie Farmer.
“Less than 1% of these files have been released… We need just two more signatures to force the release.” — Rep. Ro Khanna.
“The government has mistreated them after Jeffrey Epstein mistreated them.” — Attorney Bradley Edwards, recounting the Jane Does case.
“There is no hoax. The abuse was real.” — Survivor at the microphones.
“[Ghislaine] Maxwell must remain in a maximum security prison… No leniency, no deals.” — Survivor demand from the podium.
“Unseal all the documents… [Secrecy] will continue to lead to more pain… and honestly more deaths of innocent victims.” — Survivor statement.
“We will confidentially compile the names we all know… survivors and for survivors.” — Lisa Phillips.
Top takeaways
The ask is procedural and specific. The Khanna–Massie petition is a textbook use of the discharge rule. With 218 signatures, the House must take up a discharge motion on a designated day. That is why organizers emphasize two more Republicans today.
The document dump did not settle the issue. House Oversight’s release of >33,000 pages is not the “full files,” according to survivors and co-leading lawmakers; they want unsealing of protected materials across agencies and courts.
Maxwell’s transfer fueled anger. Survivors argue the punishment does not match the crimes and that minimum-security is inappropriate. Federal records and reporting confirm the transfer to the Bryan, Texas camp.
Bipartisan optics were intentional. Remarks from Greene, Massie, and Khanna were coordinated to frame this as non-partisan, centering victims and transparency over party fights.
What it means — the road to a floor vote
How discharge works: It takes 218 signatures, a short layover, then a discharge day when the motion comes up. If adopted, the House proceeds to the rule or to the bill itself, forcing public consideration regardless of leadership’s preference. This tool is rare, but the threat often pushes leadership to act.
Where counts stand: Today’s public reporting and the Clerk’s dashboard show four Republicans on the petition — Massie (sponsor), Mace, Boebert, Greene — with Democrats providing the bulk of signatures. Leaders on the steps repeatedly said they need two more Republicans to reach the procedural trigger.
What could change next: After Tuesday’s release of >33,000 pages, House leadership floated non-binding alternatives. A successful discharge would force a more decisive path to full release and put members publicly on record.
Chronology highlights
Opening letters and roll call of survivors — letters read for Juliet Bryant and in memory of Virginia Giuffre; Annie Farmer introduces Maria Farmer’s statement.
Khanna sets the stakes — unity frame; “less than 1%” released; asks for two GOP signers.
Greene’s appeal to Republicans — “choose every path for justice… transparency.”
Attorneys’ history lesson — Jane Does v. United States, Courtney Wild, illegal NPA claim, banks’ role; why protective orders matter.
Survivor invitation to meet — “humanize us… this is real trauma.”
Maxwell transfer pushback — “horrified… prison camp… she also participated in the abuse”; separate demand to keep her in maximum security.
“Unseal all the documents” — to stop rumor cycles and protect survivors’ mental health.
Survivor-led list — plan to confidentially compile names known to survivors.
What to watch next
Signature watch: Whether two more House Republicans add their names on the Clerk’s board in the next 24–72 hours.
Scope of any floor action: If leadership offers another symbolic vote versus full unsealing; if a discharge motion is scheduled on a discharge day; whether signers hold under public pressure.
Any DOJ/BOP response to survivor objections regarding Maxwell’s custody level.
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Reporting built from today’s press event transcript and contemporaneous records. Key on-scene quotations are drawn directly from the raw transcript captured at the event.
Thank you for this! It is beautifully organized and puts all we heard into perspective. There can be only one reason a senator won't sign. That's not a "club" i'd want to belong to.
Thank you! Excellent communication regarding the issues. The courage exhibited by these women is impossible to measure. trumPUS acted out like a true predator.