Executive Summary
- Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse have released a national PSA demanding the full, unredacted release of all documents related to his sex trafficking network.
- The campaign, led by the group World Without Exploitation, coincides with a scheduled House of Representatives vote on a bill that would require the files’ release.
- The PSA features survivors holding photos of their younger selves and is being broadcast on television, online, and projected onto government buildings in Washington, D.C.
- Advocates are calling for bipartisan support to increase transparency and aid in the prevention of future child exploitation.
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse have launched a national public service announcement (PSA) campaign, urging Congress to compel the Department of Justice to release all remaining documents connected to his sex trafficking network. The campaign, organized by the coalition World Without Exploitation (WorldWE), comes in response to the recent partial unsealing of court records and precedes an expected vote in the House of Representatives this week on a bill mandating the files’ full release.
The one-minute video features several women, including Lisa Phillips, Marijke Chartouni, and Annie Farmer, holding photographs of themselves as teenagers, the approximate age they were when they first encountered the convicted sex offender. The PSA calls on lawmakers to “shine a light into the darkness” and concludes with the text, “Five administrations and we’re still in the dark,” before urging viewers to contact Congress.
Dani Bensky, a survivor featured in the video who met Epstein at 17, stated, “What began as a chance to pay for dance lessons turned into months of abuse.” In addition to the PSA, several survivors have co-signed an open letter to Congress, reinforcing a broader push on Capitol Hill for more comprehensive anti-sex-trafficking legislation.
Lauren Hersh, the national director of WorldWE, emphasized the bipartisan nature of the issue. “This vote offers an opportunity to stand firmly on the side of protecting minors from abuse,” she said. “Republicans and Democrats who support the release of these files can help ensure that future investigations into child exploitation are stronger, more transparent and more responsive to victims.”
Campaign and Distribution
The campaign is being distributed across multiple platforms, including a television run with a 30-second version aired during Monday Night Football, print advertisements, and digital distribution on YouTube and social media. The PSA has also been projected onto government buildings in Washington, D.C., including the Department of Justice, to draw further attention to the survivors’ demands for transparency. It is important to note that any individuals named in sealed or unsealed documents are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.