For survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the 2026 State of the Union address was meant to be more than a political spectacle; it was a chance to be seen.
They said that their presence was meant to show US President Donald Trump, who has persistently downplayed the case, dismissing scrutiny as a Democratic 'hoax', that the abuse they suffered caused real, lasting harm.
At least half a dozenEpstein survivorswere invited by House Democrats to attend the State of the Union address as part of a broader effort to press for full transparency over the Epstein files, and to highlight the lack of accountability for powerful figures tied to the Epstein case, perThe Washington Post.
Before the speech, a press conference on Capitol Hill was held where the president and the subsequent handling of the investigation, along with the FBI Director's behaviour in the case, were vehemently criticised.
They voiced concerns over the last Epstein file release, pointing out that alleged co-conspirators' names were redacted while details of the survivors were revealed, according to a report byThe Insider.
Jess Michaels, reportedly one of Epstein's victims of abuse, said on her mission, 'I think it's really important for people to know why we're coming tonight.' She also reiterated that, 'It's to remind this administration that we're not going anywhere — and neither are the American people.'
Michaels toldWUSA9, 'I really struggled to feel safe in the world. I've been dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder for about the last 35 years. It would take him getting arrested for me to feel safe enough to come forward.'
San Antonio's Morning News hosts nail it: Democrats exploiting Epstein survivors as political pawns at SOTU is disgusting. These victims deserve justice, not to be used as theater props. Win elections first, then you get the floor. Pathetic stunt.pic.twitter.com/9J8nrLApDZ
Michaels said she was introduced to Jeffrey Epstein in the early 1990s, and met him once more since. She was allegedly attacked during their second meeting. 'I was raped,' she recalled. 'For me, being a really assertive and confident young independent dancer, I thought if anything ever happened to me, I would know what to do — and I didn't. When it happened, I froze.'
Democratic minority leader and New York Senator Chuck Schumer was reportedly bringing Danielle 'Dani' Bensky, another Epstein survivor who reportedly met the convicted sex offender when she was 17. Schumer said the president 'refuses to talk about' the Epstein files. Dani Bensky urged the administration to release all files linked to Jeffrey Epstein, accusing the president and the Department of Justice of a cover-up and protecting perpetrators.
Source: International Business Times UK
