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Frustrated by years of secrecy, survivors are taking matters into their own hands — building the very client list the Justice Department refuses to release.
Category: Deep Dives & Analysis | Date: September 3, 2025
What is happening?
On Capitol Hill this week, the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein sent a message louder than any court filing: if the government won’t reveal the names, they will. “We have emails, flight logs, and our own memories,” said survivor Lisa Phillips. “If they won’t publish the list, we’ll make one ourselves.”
Their announcement marks a turning point in one of the most notorious scandals of the 21st century. After years of partial files, sealed depositions, and missing accountability, the people who lived through Epstein’s crimes are refusing silence. Instead, they’re taking back the narrative — and the names.
The plan is simple but unprecedented. A coalition of Epstein’s victims is assembling a record of who was inside his circle — using flight manifests, private correspondence, and their own testimonies. It will be a list “by survivors, for survivors,” according to organizers. CBS News reported from the Capitol Hill press event where the announcement was made.
Why Now?
Pressure has been building for months. The Justice Department has resisted releasing what’s often called the “Epstein client list,” citing privacy and prosecutorial discretion. Congress has held hearings but produced little more than redacted files. Survivors say they’ve waited long enough — and that transparency delayed is justice denied.
<- Justice gap: If survivors must compile evidence themselves, it signals institutional collapse.
- Accountability: The names could reveal enablers who escaped scrutiny.
- Transparency test: A democracy fails when secrecy shields the powerful.
Verdict: When survivors do the work of justice, the scandal isn’t only Epstein — it’s the system itself.
Political Shockwaves
The Capitol Hill announcement drew bipartisan attention. Representative Ro Khanna called the move “a symptom of institutional failure,” while libertarian Republican Thomas Massie said Congress should not need survivors to “do the work of transparency for us.” Both sides recognize the symbolism: victims taking control because the state would not.
The Risks Ahead
Legal experts warn that publication of such a list could trigger defamation lawsuits, especially if names are included without court-verified evidence. But survivors argue the risk of silence is greater: “They relied on our shame to protect them,” Phillips said. “That ends now.”
The Global Dimension
Epstein’s network spanned the Atlantic, with ties reaching into European politics, British royalty, and global finance. If the survivors’ list comes to light, it could open a new chapter of scrutiny — far beyond U.S. borders.
The Final Word
The story of Epstein has always been one of power shielding itself. Survivors compiling their own list flips that script: those once silenced are now the record keepers. And if that list sees daylight, it won’t just expose names — it will expose a justice system that forced victims to do what institutions would not.
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Disclaimer: Citizen of Europe articles are rigorously fact-checked. However, this piece discusses ongoing investigations and survivor testimony. Allegations mentioned have not always been tested in court. Readers are urged to approach with critical judgment.
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