As a Survivor of Sexual Abuse, Pressley Has Led Efforts in Congress to Center Survivors, Demand Transparency, Accountability

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued the following statement after Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that the Department of Justice will fail to release all of the Epstein files to the public by the legal deadline set for today by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law that was forced through by House Democrats and signed into law by President Trump in November.

“Donald Trump and his so-called Department of Justice are now violating federal law as they continue to obstruct the release of the Epstein files and deny survivors the transparency and accountability they deserve. After defying the Oversight Committee’s subpoena, we had to force Donald Trump’s hand to sign the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law—and he is now defying Congress itself.

“For months, we have pushed on every front to meet survivors with the dignity they are due—and time and time again the Trump administration has chosen to shield predators rather than do right by survivors. 

“This does not end here. We will be examining all legal options to force the release of the files and hold powerful abusers, their enablers, and this lawless White House to account. The survivor community is one of strength and resolve, and we will never stop fighting for accountability and healing for all.”

In November, Rep. Pressley applauded the House passage to release the Epstein files, following a day of joining her Democratic Women’s Caucus colleagues for a closed-door, closed press listening session with survivors and a candlelight vigil honoring survivors alongside colleagues and advocates on Capitol Hill.

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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