'I'm already scared enough': Epstein survivor sidesteps direct question about Trump
September 03, 2025
A Jeffrey Epstein survivor sidestepped a direct question about President Donald Trump as she urged lawmakers to mandate the release of materials related to the late financier's sex trafficking network.
Dozens of survivors appeared Wednesday morning on Capitol Hill at an event organized by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna to urge lawmakers to support a discharge position they have filed mandating the release of Justice Department records about Epstein's crimes.
"It's not okay for us to be silenced and it's not okay for Jeffrey Epstein and everybody else to be put on a pedestal," said abuse survivor Marina Lacerda. "I think everybody needs to hear from us because we know what went on, right, and there is not only me who's been silenced. There are hundreds of women that are silenced. My hope is to stop this abuse for the future, right, for people that are coming up for women – my daughter, for example. These people have these women have daughters, they they most definitely don't want that anymore, and I think mainly it is it is this is therapy for all of us to, you know, we want to be heard."
"Nobody also has ever asked me to speak," she added. "That's also another thing, so I can say for all of us here we are here we want this bill to pass. It is very important and we need transparency. We are tired of looking at the news and seeing Jeffrey Epstein's name and saying that this is a hoax. We are tired of it, we are done, we are not going to be silenced, and I hope that my voice will bring other survivors and other victims to come along and speak up so that we can be more of a stronger voice and louder."
President Donald Trump's name came up multiple times during the news conference, and a reporter asked Lacerda what she would say to him if given a chance.
"Listen, I don't like to, I don't want to send a direct message to him," Lacerda said. "I'm already scared enough. Yeah, just just pass the vote, listen to us. This is not a hoax, like, it's not going to go away."
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