LOS ANGELES (AP) - Victims of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse are voicing skepticism and anxiety regarding the Justice Department's management of records concerning the convicted sex offender. While some victims advocate for greater public disclosures as an essential move towards transparency, others are wary about their privacy and the motivations of the Trump administration.
This week, several victims or their attorneys submitted letters to federal judges in New York expressing their willingness to support the public release of grand jury testimony that contributed to the criminal indictments against Epstein and his former associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. Their support, however, is contingent upon the government's agreement to let them review the materials first and to redact sensitive information.
The Justice Department is urging the court to take the unusual step of unsealing the transcripts of this secret testimony. Among its stated goals is to address public unrest, as some individuals believe the government has withheld crucial information regarding Epstein's illicit activities.
Conversely, other victims have accused President Trump of neglecting their plight while he attempts to redirect focus away from Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial for allegedly sexually abusing underage girls. Concerns have been raised that the administration might, in its haste to resolve the scandal, offer Maxwell reprieve, immunity from future prosecution, or improved prison conditions in an effort to secure her testimony before Congress.
One alleged victim remarked, "I am not some pawn in your political warfare," in a letter filed with the court by her lawyer. She articulated frustration with the current climate, stating, "What you have done and continue to do is eating at me day after day as you help to perpetuate this story indefinitely."
Another victim, submitting her letter anonymously on Wednesday, described the situation as "very exhausting."
Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of enabling Epstein's sexual abuse of underage girls and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. Recently, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche conducted a nine-hour interview with Maxwell, stating he wanted to gather information concerning the wrongdoings perpetrated by Epstein and others. Following this interview, Maxwell was relocated from a Florida federal prison to a low-security prison camp in Texas.
Alicia Arden, who alleges that Epstein sexually assaulted her in the late 1990s, held a press conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday, expressing support for the release of further materials associated with the case, including a transcript of Maxwell's interview with Blanche. Nonetheless, she conveyed her outrage at the prospect of Maxwell receiving clemency or preferential treatment, criticizing the Justice Department's approach as "very upsetting."
The Trump administration has experienced backlash from certain factions of its political base, who have demanded public access to files connected to Epstein. Due to Epstein's relationships with high-profile figures—including Trump, Britain's Prince Andrew, and former President Bill Clinton—he remains a focal point of various conspiracy theories.
Last month, the Justice Department declared its intentions not to release additional files related to the Epstein sex trafficking investigation. Subsequently, it sought to unseal the grand jury transcripts but conveyed to the court that the transcripts contained little information not already disclosed to the public. Judges tasked with determining the fate of the transcripts have solicited input from victims.
In a letter filed with the court, attorneys Brad Edwards and Paul Cassell, representing numerous Epstein victims, indicated, "For survivors who bravely testified, the perception that Ms. Maxwell is being legitimized in public discourse has already resulted in re-traumatization."
Maxwell's attorney, David Oscar Markus, stated this week that she is against the public release of the grand jury transcripts. He argued that the interest in Epstein, who is deceased, does not warrant infringing upon the grand jury's confidentiality while Maxwell, as an active defendant, retains viable legal options and due process rights.
The Justice Department has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding the victims' statements.
