Epstein survivors voice frustration over selective releases on eve of expected major release from Justice Department

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Several survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein expressed distress during a private meeting earlier this week with female Democratic lawmakers over the piecemeal release of Epstein-related documents and images by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, four people familiar with the meeting told CNN.

The survivors said the selective nature of the disclosures was upsetting, CNN reported on Friday, the same day the Trump administration is supposed to release all the Justice Department Epstein files, with appropriate redactions to protect the victims and survivors.

The virtual meeting, organized with members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, included multiple Epstein survivors, some of their advocates, and several female House Democrats.

Some lawmakers were said to have told the survivors they understood their pain and shared their concerns.

During the meeting, Rep. Melanie Stansbury, a member of the Oversight Committee, said she would convey the survivors’ concerns to the committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia.

She also noted that she had already spoken with committee attorneys about how decisions were being made over which photos to release and expressed frustration over receiving little advance notice before materials were made public, the sources said.

After Democrats forced a vote following months of trying, Congress in November passed legislation to compel the Justice Department to release its records related to Epstein, and the files are set to be released on Friday, assuming there are no more delays.

Epstein was found dead in his New York City jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. Separately, in 2008, he pleaded guilty and was convicted of procuring a minor for prostitution, but critics slammed the relatively minor conviction as a “sweetheart deal” that allowed Epstein to avoid more serious punishment.

His survivors have demanded accountability and legal support to face their abusers and get justice.

- Justice Department due to release files

Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who serves on both the Democratic Women’s Caucus and the committee, echoed Stansbury’s remarks and emphasized her commitment to ensuring that congressional actions do not inflict further harm or trauma on Epstein survivors.

“Rep. Stansbury does not comment on private discussions with survivors and between colleagues. She stands with survivors in seeking justice and ensuring their safety and privacy,” said Stansbury spokesperson Matt Jansen.

Since last week, Democrats on the committee have been releasing limited sets of photos obtained from the Epstein estate, with redactions.

The images have been shared with little accompanying context and represent only a small fraction of the roughly 95,000 photos that committee members and staff are still reviewing.

Democrats have obscured personally identifying details to protect Epstein’s victims and survivors.

These releases have drawn criticism from some Republicans, who argue that Democrats are selectively disclosing materials for political purposes. Democrats have criticized Republicans for dragging their feet and generally showing unwillingness to release all the files from the Justice Department, which is the largest group of evidence by far.

While Democrats have opted for smaller, incremental releases since receiving the materials from the Epstein estate, Republicans have pursued a different approach by publishing larger batches at once, but often including files that have already been released.

The latest release was on Thursday, when Democrats on the House Oversight Committee made public another set of roughly 60 photographs.

“Oversight Committee Democrats have always informed the legal teams and representatives of the survivors before any release, and we will continue to do so,” Garcia’s spokesperson Sara Guerrero said in a statement.

“The privacy of all survivors is a priority for the committee and all of its members," she added.