NBC Asks Epstein Survivors for
Six women who say they were trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein or his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell made a public appeal on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., demanding the federal government release more investigative files. They also urged former President Donald Trump to publicly rule out a pardon for Maxwell. The women appeared alongside family members of Virginia Giuffre, a prominent Epstein accuser who died by suicide in April, and criticized what they called a long-standing failure to deliver justice.
Jess Michaels, who alleges Epstein raped her in 1991, described him as a “master manipulator” and said his behavior followed a calculated strategy that left young women and teenage girls defenseless. Michaels cited a “severe miscarriage of justice” and delays in accountability as her motivation for speaking out. Her remarks echoed the sentiments of other survivors who say they were also groomed and abused.
Wendy Avis and Jena-Lisa Jones, both of whom say they were 14 when Epstein abused them, condemned the silence of adults who may have witnessed the abuse. Jones stated that many people around Epstein “very clearly knew what was going on” but have refused to speak up. Avis, speaking publicly for the first time, stressed that victims like her still haven’t received justice, calling for broader recognition of the everyday people affected.
All six women, including Marijke Chartouni, Lisa Phillips, and Liz Stein, expressed deep frustration with the Justice Department. Stein accused officials of failing to protect or inform survivors and backed bipartisan efforts in Congress to force transparency. Their statements came just before the Republican-led House Oversight Committee released over 33,000 pages of Epstein-related documents.
Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie are leading a legislative push to investigate alleged mishandling of the federal probes into Epstein and Maxwell. Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, continues to deny wrongdoing. Phillips warned that if the system continues to fail them, survivors are prepared to take justice into their own hands: “We’ll compile our own list.”
Tim Walz Hammered By New Subpoena As Major Federal Investigation
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has been issued a subpoena by the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, led by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), in connection with the Feeding Our Future (FOF) scandal. The investigation centers on the alleged misuse of $250 million from the Federal Child Nutrition Program during the COVID-19 pandemic, funds that were intended to feed children but were reportedly misappropriated by organizations operating under state oversight.
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), which oversaw the program during Walz’s administration, has come under scrutiny for failing to prevent the alleged fraud. The subpoena demands records related to MDE’s internal decisions, communications with federal agencies, and any internal investigations conducted during or after the fraud took place. Rep. Foxx accused Walz and other executive officials of failing to take sufficient action to prevent the massive fraud.
Governor Walz responded to the allegations in June 2024, denying any wrongdoing. He acknowledged that MDE employees may not have conducted adequate due diligence but rejected claims of intentional misconduct. Walz, who was previously a vice presidential candidate, maintained that his administration acted in good faith during the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic.
The Committee hinted that the findings from the FOF investigation could prompt legislative action. In a letter, Rep. Foxx stated that the fraud fell within the Committee’s jurisdiction and could be addressed through new laws designed to prevent similar abuses in federal nutrition programs. This development signals the broader political and legislative stakes surrounding the scandal.
Adding further weight to the investigation, Guhaad Hashi Said, a known associate of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), recently pleaded guilty to laundering $2.9 million through his nonprofit organization. His conviction is part of the larger Feeding Our Future case, which has now implicated 52 defendants in what prosecutors describe as one of Minnesota’s largest fraud schemes.
