A congressional committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes convened near his Palm Beach mansion, where some of the abuse occurred, to hear testimony from survivors. Democrats on the committee said Epstein was able to victimize young girls even after avoiding federal charges in 2008 in Florida, where he pled guilty to procuring a person under 18 for prostitution. “He had work relief, privilege, privilege that allowed him to leave the jail each day to continue his systematic sexual exploitation of women and girls,” Rep. Lois Frankel said. A handful of the estimated 1,200 underage girls and women abused by Epstein testified before the committee, including the brother of Virginia Giuffre, who committed suicide in 2025. “The truth is, many survivors stay silent because many of these individuals still hold power,” said Sky Roberts.”But Virginia, she did it anyway. She stood up when others were afraid, told the truth under oath, and faced people she knew were powerful,” Roberts added. Some survivors expressed anguish after the Department of Justice released their names without their knowledge or consent, while withholding the names of powerful individuals suspected of abusing young women. “If there are other men who hurt women, hold them accountable, but please leave the survivors alone,” one survivor said. New Mexico Rep. Melanie Stansbury, a member of the congressional committee, raised concerns about how Epstein’s abuse continued for years globally, including at Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe County. “It’s written into the landscape here in West Palm Beach. It’s written into the landscape in New Mexico, where Jeffrey Epstein went to Santa Fe with his rich friends and recruited girls that he exploited and then trafficked to other rich friends, that he flew to New Mexico,” Stansbury said. She said law enforcement at all levels failed the survivors. ” didn’t just fail to investigate these cases. They chose not to investigate them. They chose to take bribes and kickbacks and campaign donations. The police department here in West Palm Beach chose to take a donation from Jeffrey Epstein,” Stansbury said.
A congressional committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes convened near his Palm Beach mansion, where some of the abuse occurred, to hear testimony from survivors.
Democrats on the committee said Epstein was able to victimize young girls even after avoiding federal charges in 2008 in Florida, where he pled guilty to procuring a person under 18 for prostitution.
“He had work relief, privilege, privilege that allowed him to leave the jail each day to continue his systematic sexual exploitation of women and girls,” Rep. Lois Frankel said.
A handful of the estimated 1,200 underage girls and women abused by Epstein testified before the committee, including the brother of Virginia Giuffre, who committed suicide in 2025.
“The truth is, many survivors stay silent because many of these individuals still hold power,” said Sky Roberts.
“But Virginia, she did it anyway. She stood up when others were afraid, told the truth under oath, and faced people she knew were powerful,” Roberts added.
Some survivors expressed anguish after the Department of Justice released their names without their knowledge or consent, while withholding the names of powerful individuals suspected of abusing young women.
“If there are other men who hurt women, hold them accountable, but please leave the survivors alone,” one survivor said.
New Mexico Rep. Melanie Stansbury, a member of the congressional committee, raised concerns about how Epstein’s abuse continued for years globally, including at Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe County.
“It’s written into the landscape here in West Palm Beach. It’s written into the landscape in New Mexico, where Jeffrey Epstein went to Santa Fe with his rich friends and recruited girls that he exploited and then trafficked to other rich friends, that he flew to New Mexico,” Stansbury said.
She said law enforcement at all levels failed the survivors.
“[They] didn’t just fail to investigate these cases. They chose not to investigate them. They chose to take bribes and kickbacks and campaign donations. The police department here in West Palm Beach chose to take a donation from Jeffrey Epstein,” Stansbury said.
