I will keep pushing for truth, justice, and accountability.

Movement family,

Yesterday’s vote to release the Epstein files was 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, and I was honored to join many of them for a listening session and candlelight vigil on Capitol Hill yesterday.

They refer to each other as “survivor sisters.” One came up to me and said, “We are the Epstein files, and we want to be released.” Those files contain information that the survivors themselves can’t even access.

They expressed how they’ve been violated and robbed of their sense of self. As young girls with dreams to be dancers and artists and lawyers and members of Congress, they were groomed, preyed upon, exploited, and shamefully had their lives changed forever.

They shared how they have told their stories over and over again. For decades. But when their stories were met with inaction, over and over again, they felt like ghosts.

Now they are finally seeing action. The action they have always deserved.

To every survivor who shared their story and for those who haven’t spoken out yet: thank you for your strength. I see you, 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 these women have had to wait decades for the truth — and even more damning that Congress has to force the DOJ to do right by them after months of obstruction by Republican co-conspirators.

Yesterday was a win for every survivor who has ever been ignored, dismissed, or harmed, and it was 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.

In solidarity,

Ayanna