House Democrats bring Jeffrey Epstein survivors to Trump’s State of the Union address
A number of House Democrats invited Jeffrey Epstein’s survivors to be their guests at President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday night.
That includes Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., co-authored the Epstein Transparency Act, legislation that resulted in the release of millions of files related to the politically connected financier.
Khanna said in a statement Haley Robson, who said she was trafficked by Epstein from the age of 16, as his guest. in the president’s address to a joint session of Congress.
“Haley’s courageous fight is proof that this is not about politics, it’s about exposing America’s two-tier justice system and bringing accountability to the Epstein class involved in the horrific abuse of young girls,” Khanna said. “The courage of some survivors was the catalyst to change the rotten system and finally stand for American humanity and values,” he added.
Robson said, “I’m honored and it was a surprise to be invited.
Some Epstein survivors have criticized Trump’s handling of the Epstein case and the release of the files, with others accusing the Justice Department of not doing enough to prosecute potential accomplices of Epstein while keeping the names of some of those people redacted in the released files. Others also complained that the Justice Department violated their rights and the Epstein Transparency Act by failing to redact all of their names from the files.
Members of Congress often invite guests whose presence conveys political meaning. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., is bringing counties affected by ICE raids to the administration. Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., is bringing in a right-wing activist who has reported fraud allegations against some Somali immigrants there.
The president will have guests with him. He invited the men’s and women’s hockey teams to the US, but a spokesperson for the organization said the women’s team would not be able to attend. It was not clear whether the men’s team would attend.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, will bring as his guests Sky and Amanda Roberts, the brother and sister-in-law of Epstein accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who died by suicide last year.
Attorney Melanie Stansbury, DN.M., comes as her guest New Mexico District Attorney Andrea Romero, who launched an investigation into Epstein’s activities in the state, where he owned a violent place known as Zorro Ranch.
“He basically did whatever he wanted in this state without accountability,” Romero said last week, adding that there is no record of law enforcement ever searching the 7,600-acre property.
Some Democrats don’t attend the event themselves, but invite survivors to their places.
Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Ore., said she would be meeting with constituents during the speech, and asked another Epstein survivor to appear in her place.
“I invite Lisa Phillips, one of the many brave women who survived Epstein’s abuse, to attend the State of the Union on my behalf. Her presence will send a clear message: Epstein survivors will not be silenced. The powerful will not be protected. Our government will be held accountable to the people it serves,” Dexter said in a statement.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said another Epstein survivor, Marijke Chartouni, who is also one of his accomplices, will attend the speech in her place.
“Thirty years after the FBI began ignoring reports of Epstein’s crimes, Pam Bondi’s Justice Department continues to play catch-up rather than hold perpetrators accountable — just as other countries are taking decisive action,” Chartouni said in a statement released by Jayapal’s office. “This injustice will not be buried, and we will continue to make our voices heard, at every opportunity, until there is truth and accountability for every survivor of Epstein and his ring.”
Several lawmakers, including Raskin, Jayapal and Stansbury, plan to hold a press conference with survivors before the address, they said in a press release.
