As a Survivor of Sexual Abuse, Pressley Spent the Day Centering Survivors on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON – Today, following her YES vote on a House resolution to release the Epstein files, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued the following statement applauding its passage and renewing her push for Congressional action and accountability. Congresswoman Pressley, who is herself a survivor of sexual abuse, has spent the day centering survivors on Capitol Hill.

“Today’s House vote to release the Epstein files is an important and long overdue step toward the healing, accountability, and transparency that survivors deserve. As a survivor of sexual assault who has fought for justice my whole life, I know the pain and trauma they carry daily. To the survivors who sat with me today and shared their stories: thank you for your strength. I see you, your experiences are real, and I will continue fighting for you.

“For months, we’ve pushed on every front—issuing subpoenas, demanding hearings, forcing votes on the House floor—to deliver accountability. It is disgraceful that survivors have had to wait decades for the truth—and even more damning that Congress must force Donald Trump to do right by these women after months of obstruction by he and his Republican co-conspirators.

“To be clear, Trump already has the authority to release the full Epstein files, as mandated by the House Oversight Committee’s July subpoena, and he must do so today. I also continue to urge the Committee to hold a full, public hearing with survivors to enshrine their stories into the Congressional Record.

“Today is a win for every survivor who has ever been ignored, dismissed, or harmed, and it is a testament to the strength of our survivor community and collective advocacy. Together, we’ll keep pushing for the truth, for justice, and for accountability, because survivors deserve nothing less.”

This afternoon, Rep. Pressley joined her Democratic Women’s Caucus colleagues for a closed-door, closed press listening session with survivors on Capitol Hill. Later this evening at 5:00pm, Rep. Pressley and the DWC will hold a candlelight vigil honoring survivors alongside colleagues and advocates in the Rayburn Foyer.

As a survivor of sexual abuse herself, Congresswoman Pressley has been a dedicated advocate for survivors’ justice and has led committee Democrats in calling for a full Congressional hearing to ensure survivors’ firsthand accounts are heard.

Rep. Pressley has led the demand for a hearing with survivors as the Committee has continued its investigation and after the Congresswoman successfully helped pass a motion by Ranking Member Robert Garcia and Congresswoman Summer Lee to force the Committee to subpoena the Epstein files.

In recent interviews, Rep. Pressley described why her work to subpoena the Epstein files is deeply personal to her.

Throughout her time in Congress, Rep. Pressley has been a champion for justice for survivors of sexual violence and reproductive freedom.

In July 2024, Rep. Pressley reintroduced the Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination (BE HEARD) in the Workplace Act of 2024. In June 2024, Rep. Pressley renewed her calls for accountability and survivor-focused solutions following the damning reports of a toxic work environment at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).  In June 2024, Rep. Pressley also sent a letter to the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) requesting information about the botched closure of FCI Dublin, abuse of women while they were being transferred to other facilities, and BOP’s management of investigations into the staff sexual misconduct and abuse at FCI Dublin and other federal BOP facilities.

Rep. Pressley is also a lead co-sponsor of H.R. 5388, legislation that would prevent the Secretary of Education from rolling back Title IX protections for survivors, as well as H.Res. 560, a resolution calling for an impeachment inquiry into Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, following reporting on new allegations of sexual misconduct committed by the Associate Justice.

In April 2019, following the passage of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019, Rep. Pressley issued a statement honoring her mother, Sandra Pressley, a survivor of domestic violence. Rep. Pressley is also the lead co-sponsor of an amendment to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that would establish the first-ever grant program dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, which passed the House of Representatives in March 2021.

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