Giuffre’s family members spoke with visible emotion, recalling her years of advocacy, her cooperation with law enforcement, her international legal efforts, and the intense scrutiny she endured.
Her relatives said that although she is no longer alive, her mission continues through the voices of the women she inspired.
Testimonies of Abuse and Systemic Failure
Each woman on the panel shared painful memories, but they also highlighted the broader structural problems that allowed Epstein to evade justice for so long:
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law enforcement hesitations
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failed investigations
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lenient plea deals
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institutional blind spots
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federal agencies failing to connect warning signs
Several panelists described how Epstein exploited their vulnerabilities, using promises of financial security, career opportunities, or emotional support.
Others explained how he targeted younger victims through a sophisticated network of recruiters, social connections, and assistants — a system that operated with disturbing efficiency.
“Epstein was a master manipulator”
One of the most powerful statements came from Jess Michaels, who says Epstein raped her in 1991 when she was 22.
Her voice was steady but filled with years of accumulated pain:
Everything he did was calculated and rehearsed. It wasn’t random. It was a system he engineered over years.”
Her comments reflected a shared sentiment: Epstein’s crimes were not the actions of a single individual acting in isolation, but part of a deliberate, highly organized structure that relied on money, influence, and the silence of those in positions of authority.
Many of the survivors said that what hurt most was not only the abuse itself but the way institutions ignored warning signs, dismissed complaints, or failed to investigate allegations that should have halted Epstein’s operations decades earlier.
Demanding Transparency: The Push for Federal File Releases
A major focus of the event was the demand that the U.S. government unseal remaining documents connected to Epstein’s case. These records include:
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Correspondence
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Witness statements
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Travel logs
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Financial records
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Court filings
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Investigation summaries
While some documents were released in 2024 and early 2025, many remain sealed for legal, privacy, or procedural reasons.
The survivors argued that transparency is essential for three reasons:
1. To identify any additional individuals involved.
Survivors emphasized that accountability should extend beyond Epstein and Maxwell to include anyone who knowingly facilitated or benefited from the abuse.
