The president did not acknowledge the Epstein files or the Epstein survivors who attended his address at the Capitol.
President Donald Trump was shamed for his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files at the State of the Union address on Tuesday. Democrats brought several Epstein survivors as guests to the president’s address at the Capitol and wore badges calling out the president’s handling of the files on the convicted sex offender.
“Stand with survivors. Release the files,” the badges read, with a black redaction box blocking the space ahead of “files,” a reference to the Justice Department’s much-criticized redactions. Trump did not acknowledge the survivors or address the Epstein files during his record-breaking 108-minute speech. Democrats wore badges to call out the president’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files."Stand with survivors," the badges read.Danielle Bensky, a Jeffrey Epstein survivor, also wore the pin during a news conference ahead of attending the State of the Union address on Tuesday.More than a dozen of Epstein’s accusers had planned to attend the State of the Union address as Democratic lawmakers’ guests, Their presence was meant to remind Trump, who was long friends with Epstein and has tried to dismiss the focus on the files as a Democratic “hoax,” that the reality of Epstein’s abuse could not be brushed aside. At a press conference ahead of Trump’s speech, survivors called on Trump and the Justice Department to release the remaining files and blasted the DOJ’s redactions.“Where are the rest of the files?” said Dani Bensky, an Epstein accuser who attended the State of the Union address as a guest of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the Post reported. “Why are there no investigations when there are plenty of people to investigate? Have you read them? Why is the FBI director out there partying like a college kid when he should be investigating the vast criminal enterprise?” Bensky added, calling out FBI Director Kash Patel forthe DOJ withheld dozens of documents from its Epstein release that may pertain to a woman who accused Trump and Epstein of sexually abusing her when she was a minor, including three FBI interviews with the accuser. Justice Department spokeswoman Natalie Baldassarre toldAt the conference, Amanda Roberts, the sister-in-law of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent victims, declared that despite the president’s wishes, “today we are saying we will not move on, and the world is not moving on.” Donald Trump is mentioned in the Epstein files thousands of times, although the president denies being aware about his former close friend's child sex crimes.Trump spent much of last year working to dissuade Republicans from voting for the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandated a full disclosure of the files. He has also refused to meet with Epstein survivors. After Congress passed the bill and Trump—knowing the numbers were not on his side—was forced to sign it into law, the Justice Department missed the deadline for disclosing the files. Amid their staggered release, the DOJ has been criticized for redacting Epstein’s associates while failing to redact survivors’ names in the files.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Newly unearthed DEA document from Epstein files raises question: Did Epstein facilitate drug trafficking?A memo shows Jeffrey Epstein was the subject of a previously undisclosed U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency investigation targeting him and 14 others for suspicious money transfers possibly linked to illegal narcotics.
Read more »
Justice Department withheld and removed some Epstein files related to TrumpAn NPR investigation finds the public database of Epstein files is missing dozens of pages related to sexual abuse accusations against President Trump.
Read more »
NPR Investigation Finds Epstein Files Related to Trump Allegations Withheld by Justice DepartmentAn NPR investigation reveals the Justice Department has removed or withheld pages from the public Epstein files database related to sexual abuse accusations against former President Donald Trump. The investigation, which reviewed documents from the Epstein files database, FBI case records, and discovery logs, found dozens of pages catalogued by the Justice Department that have not been shared publicly. The missing files include FBI interview transcripts and notes from conversations with an accuser. The White House has stated that Trump has done more for Epstein's victims than anyone before him and has been exonerated on any matters related to Epstein.
Read more »
NPR Investigation Finds Justice Department Withheld Epstein Files Related to TrumpAn NPR investigation reveals the Justice Department has withheld or removed files related to Jeffrey Epstein that involve former President Donald Trump, raising questions about transparency and accountability. The investigation found missing FBI interviews and notes from a woman who accused Trump of sexual abuse, along with documents related to a key witness in the Ghislaine Maxwell case. Both Democrats and Republicans have criticized the handling of the files by the Trump administration.
Read more »
Trump to Be Confronted by Epstein Victims at Major SpeechDemocrats will host a dozen survivors as guests for the State of the Union.
Read more »
DOJ Reacts to Democrat Allegations Over Withholding Epstein Files on Donald TrumpThe DOJ denied withholding Epstein files involving Trump, rejecting Democrats’ claims.
Read more »