County Supervisor Hilda Solis speaks at a news conference Sept. 5 by a coalition of survivor advocates demanding the full, public release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files. Epstein, a former friend of President Donald Trump, was arrested in July 2019 and charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy and child sex trafficking. He died in custody while awaiting trial.
Courtesy photo
Wave Wire Services
LOS ANGELES — Elected officials joined advocates for survivors of sexual abuse downtown Sept 5 to express solidarity with those demanding the full, public release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files.
County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis joined members of the social services organization Peace Over Violence and a coalition of survivor advocates and spoke outside the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration to urge transparency, justice and access to healing, while underscoring the county’s commitment to providing trauma-informed services and legal protections.
“When survivors speak, we must listen,” Solis said. “But listening is not enough. We must act with urgency and integrity. The federal government has a moral responsibility to stand with survivors. Justice cannot come from secrecy or delay. Survivors deserve truth, accountability and a system that puts their healing first.”
On Sept. 2, 33,000 pages and several videos were made public by the House of Representatives Oversight Committee, which had subpoenaed the Justice Department for files from the Epstein investigation. Most of the files, however, were already in the public domain.
Women who say they were victimized by Epstein shared emotional accounts of sexual abuse Sept. 3 on the steps of the U.S. Capitol as they called for lawmakers to release additional files about the convicted sex offender.
President Donald Trump, who was once friendly with Epstein, said the focus on the late disgraced financier was “a Democrat hoax that never ends.”
Advocates in downtown Los Angeles Sept 5 condemned Trump’s remarks, arguing they undermine survivors and deflect attention from the urgent need for accountability.
“Survivors must be heard, not silenced,” said Patti Giggins, Peace Over Violence’s executive director. “They must be believed, not dismissed. The courage of more than 100 victims and survivors of Epstein’s abuse is heartbreaking. They were children. Now, as adults, they are seeking truth and justice, asking for transparency and accountability.
“Once again, they are in the media, caught in the politics of our time, and subjected to humiliation and doubt. Their stories remind us that sexual assault can happen to anyone, but young people are most at risk. All survivors deserve respect and the right to be heard. One vital way to support them is by standing against defamation and disinformation.”
Also at the press conference, L.A. City Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez discussed how recent immigration enforcement actions reportedly carried out by masked, unidentified individuals believed to be federal agents may have intensified fear among undocumented survivors and trafficking victims.
“These recent enforcement actions by unidentified, masked men are not just alarming — they are a direct threat to the safety and dignity of our immigrant communities,” she said. “Undocumented survivors and trafficking victims already face unimaginable trauma, and these tactics only deepen their fear and isolation.
“We must create safe spaces where survivors can come forward without fear of deportation or retaliation. We must stand firm against these harmful practices and ensure that everyone has access to justice and support.”
Solis added that no survivor “should have to choose between safety and deportation. These immigration raids are not only cruel, they make our communities less safe. When survivors are afraid to come forward, predators are protected. We are making it clear that Los Angeles County will remain a safe place for survivors regardless of their immigration status.”
On Sept. 3, victims of the late convicted sex offender Epstein joined with bipartisan members of Congress to share their stories. Some of the survivors said the release of the documents was important to them and their healing journey, and others expressed their frustration that justice had not yet been served.
Epstein was arrested in July 2019 and charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy and child sex trafficking. He died in custody a month later, while awaiting trial. His death was ruled a suicide by hanging.
