Thank you for signing up!

Subscribe to more newsletters here

It’s Wednesday. Taylor Swift’s new album comes out one month from today! ❤️‍🔥

In today's issue:

• Epstein victims speak publicly
• Effort to force Epstein file release
• Trump throws shade at Xi, Putin, Kim
• Nasal spray may prevent respiratory illness

📄 THE EPSTEIN FILES

This has been excruciating to watch:

Ten of Jeffrey Epstein’s accusers stood on the Capitol steps this morning, recounting their experiences with the convicted sex offender during a gut-wrenching press conference. I’ll warn you, it’s tough to hear.

Here are some of the newsiest moments:

• Several of the victims said they were 14 years old when they first met Epstein.
  
• They also asked President Trump to exercise his power as president to push for the release of Epstein files.
  
• Epstein survivor Haley Robson made a plea to the president. "These women are real, we're here in person. To say that it's a hoax is just not — please humanize us. I would like Donald J. Trump and every person in America and around the world to humanize us, to see us for who we are and to hear us for what we have to say. There is no hoax. The abuse was real."
  
• ^ Just a few minutes after the press conference ended, Trump referred to the push for the Epstein files to be released as a "Democrat hoax."
  
• “The only motive for opposing this bill would be to conceal wrongdoing,” said Anouska De Georgiou, one of the survivors.
  
• Georgiou also implored Trump to help bring transparency and justice to the case. “President Trump you have so much influence and power in this situation. Please use that influence and power to help us because we need it now and this country needs it now,” she said.
  
• “I was ‘minor victim 1’ … I was one of [a dozen girls] that I personally know that were forced into Jeffrey’s mansion … when we were just kids,” said survivor Marina Lacerda. She continued to say she cannot remember everything that happened. “My therapist says my brain is just trying to protect itself, but it’s so hard to begin to heal knowing that there are people out there who know more about my abuse than I do.”
  
• Lacerda reportedly provided key evidence that allowed prosecutors to charge Epstein in 2019. "The least that they can give me is my documents that they have about me," Lacerda said.
  
• The brother of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who died by suicide earlier this year, spoke on behalf of his sister. “This is about justice against the rich and powerful who have stolen something from these women and many children, at the time: their freedom,” Sky Roberts said.
  
• “I was 16 years old when I was flown to New Mexico to spend a weekend with Epstein and Maxwell,” said Annie Farmer,another survivor. “I am now 46 years old. 30 years later, we still do not know why that report wasn’t properly investigated or why Epstein and his associates were allowed to harm hundreds, if not thousands, of other girls and young women.”

📸 Photo of the news conference

📸The huge crowd gathered to hear

📸Another photo of the massive crowd

Timing: The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released a batch Epstein files Tuesday evening. Nearly........

© The Hill