Epstein Survivors Convene on Capitol Hill After King Charles Snubs Invitation

On Capitol Hill, a group of survivors of Jeffrey Epstein convened for a roundtable discussion, following King Charles III's decision to decline an invitation to meet with them. This gathering took place against the backdrop of the British monarch's connections to the notorious sex offender.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), a key figure behind the legislation that facilitated the release of Epstein-related documents, expressed disappointment over the king's absence. “It’s a missed opportunity,” Khanna remarked, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging the survivors' struggles. “Given that we wrote to him and the British ambassador indicated he would address the survivors, it feels tone-deaf not to mention them.”

While King Charles did not engage directly with the survivors, he made a vague reference to “victims” during his address to Congress, which many interpreted as an indirect acknowledgment. The roundtable featured several notable attendees, including siblings of Virginia Giuffre, a prominent survivor.

Virginia Giuffre, who tragically took her own life, had accused Prince Andrew, the king’s brother, of being involved in her trafficking—a claim that Andrew has consistently denied. Following the surfacing of these allegations and his connections to Epstein, Andrew was stripped of his royal titles.

Sky Roberts, brother of Virginia Giuffre, voiced his frustration: “You would expect this to be a moment for the king to send a message of support to survivors. We still can't get that from our own president.”

The roundtable also included other survivors such as Sharlene Rochard, Dani Bensky, and Marijke Chartouni. “I am disappointed that he missed a chance to show compassion for humanity,” Rochard stated. “We are people, and there are survivors in the U.K. and beyond.”

Advocates have repeatedly visited Capitol Hill to demand the release of Epstein's files. Despite Congress passing legislation last year aimed at this goal, many documents remain undisclosed. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche recently announced that no further files would be released, following Attorney General Pam Bondi's resignation due to her handling of the Epstein investigation.

This week, journalist Katie Phang filed a lawsuit against Blanche for failing to release Epstein-related documents. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez of New Mexico expressed her disappointment regarding the king's lack of engagement with survivors. “It’s always disheartening when those in power overlook the abuse faced by women,” she commented after the king's address.

During the roundtable, advocates discussed legislative efforts like Virginia’s Law, which seeks to eliminate the statute of limitations for sexual abuse survivors wishing to file civil claims. “I’m just now coming to terms with my own abuse,” said Dani Bensky, another survivor. “There should be no time limit on seeking justice for what happened.”

Despite their ongoing struggles, survivors continue to face significant obstacles. Since Bondi's resignation, she has avoided testifying before the House Oversight Committee, despite being subpoenaed.

Nevertheless, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) encouraged the survivors to persist in their fight for justice. “Even though the institution has foundational problems and has failed to act since many of you first shared your stories, I want you to know that your voices are making a difference,” she affirmed.