Epstein case: Survivor says Trump friendship was Jeffrey’s ‘biggest brag’; victims urge Congress to release files – The Times of India

Jeffrey Epstein’s “biggest brag” was his friendship with Donald Trump, a victim said Wednesday as survivors of the disgraced financier renewed calls for Congress to release all files from the Justice Department’s long-running investigation.Chauntae Davies, who has accused Epstein of abuse, told reporters that Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell flaunted their ties to powerful figures. “And his biggest brag forever was that he was very good friends with Donald Trump,” she said. “He had an 8-x-10 framed picture of him on his desk with the two of them, like they were very close.”Davies spoke at a press conference led by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), where survivors and advocates held signs demanding “Release the Files” and “He is on the List.” Five women carried giant letters spelling “S-H-A-M-E.”

Survivors plan independent action

Another victim, Lisa Phillips, warned that victims would take matters into their own hands if Congress refuses to act. “Together as survivors, we will confidentially compile the names we all know, who were regularly in the Epstein world,” she said.Massie and Khanna are spearheading a bipartisan petition to force the Justice Department to make all Epstein-related investigative documents public. As of Wednesday, 134 lawmakers had signed on — 130 Democrats and four Republicans: Massie, Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.). If all Democrats support the measure, just two more Republican signatures would be enough to reach the 218 needed to trigger a vote.Trump, who once socialized with Epstein and Maxwell but says he later had a “falling out” with Epstein, rejected the effort. “It’s a Democrat hoax,” he told reporters Wednesday. Republican leaders have also resisted releasing the files, saying it could expose victims who want to remain anonymous.