May 12, 2026, at West Palm Beach City Hall, a group of Epstein sexual assault survivors gave testimony regarding their abuse and the government's response. I listened to this hearing, which lasted about three hours, while I was out on a long walk.
The next morning, I was searching news sites for more information on the hearing and was surprised at how little was out there. This earth-shattering stuff about billionaire sexual assaults, massive government failure, and the stories of the women who survived all of this and are speaking truth to power took some serious time to find.
Under one video, someone posted, “This is awful. Why aren’t we hearing more about this?” My exact thoughts.
I went back and listened again to the hearings. Because I was now sitting at a table and not navigating roads, I was able to watch them too. I took notes and am doing my best to summarize and condense, one survivor at a time.
I’m trying to avoid editorializing. It’s not my place. The point of this exercise is to share what the survivors said. This is my attempt to help get the word out.
Each survivor speaks for eight to ten minutes. My notes should take just a minute or two to skim, if you’re so inclined. Please watch the video too and correct me if I need correcting. It’s important to get this right.
Link to hearing video:
https://www.youtube.com/live/fHntY5BVY90?si=ag85yR9MrzXJaI5V
Jena-Lisa Jones begins her five-minute talk at 40:20.
Her voice shook but she soldiered on, wiping away tears as she spoke.
She was a freshman in high school in West Palm Beach, age 14, when she was attacked by Epstein.
“For a long time, I stayed silent because I was afraid and I did not understand how this could happen to me.”
She demands government transparency and accountability.
How was Epstein was given a non-prosecution agreement even though there was evidence he abused dozens of children, including her?
How was he allowed to leave jail in 2009 and continue harming young girls?
The Department of Justice continues to harm survivors by publicly releasing survivor’s names, social security numbers, and deeply personal information. As a result:
- Husbands learned of their wives’ abuse.
- Children learned of the abuse of their mothers from reporters, strangers on the internet, and other kids at school.
- Fellow survivors learned that some of their friends had also been abused because they saw their names.
- Survivors saw the most intimate details of their own trauma publicly exposed.
Government promised repeatedly that survivors' info would be protected. “We came to you seeking answers for why our rights were violated in 2007, and in that process our rights were violated again. “
If the government is serious about making changes it must acknowledge the failures – when Epstein was set free in 2009 and again “when our privacy was shattered this year.”
The government must take responsibility by providing “meaningful remedies” to the survivors who’ve been harmed over and over again.
“Don’t force us to relive this through more litigation. “
Pass a law requiring the government to compensate victims for the harm caused by releasing this information
Do not pardon Ghislaine Maxwell.
If there are other men who have hurt women, prosecute them also. But please leave the survivors alone.
If a woman tells you she is a victim, listen to her. Believe her. Respect her trauma.
“Epstein tried to paint his victims as bad guys to avoid responsibility for himself. Learn and understand that.”
“Sharing our stories should be a choice, the choice I was able to make today.” Testifying should not be something survivors are forced to do.
Women abused by Epstein and groomed by Maxwell should not be treated like criminals.
Do not blame survivors for the crimes of the abusers.
Education is job one.
“I’m here for our children.”
“I didn’t have the language. Didn’t know who to tell. Didn’t have the tools or support we needed.”
Every middle and high school student in the nation needs to receive instruction on the signs of sexual abuse and exploitation and how to report it.
Train adults and provide accessible resources.
Real change requires leadership at a national level. One of the most important places to begin is in our schools.
No comments:
Post a Comment