In a significant development for victims of Jeffrey Epstein, former President Donald Trump has signed legislation mandating the U.S. Justice Department to release extensive government files related to Epstein’s case. This move is seen as a crucial step toward transparency and justice for many survivors of Epstein’s sexual abuse, whose experiences have long been shrouded in secrecy and complicated legal maneuvers.
For Marina Lacerda, one of Epstein’s victims, the release of these files is far more than a political or legal milestone—it represents a deeply personal opportunity for clarity and healing. Lacerda was just 14 years old when Epstein began sexually abusing her at his New York mansion. Now 37, she struggles with fragmented memories of those dark years, describing the trauma as something that clouded much of her adolescence. “I feel that the government and the FBI know more than I do, and that scares me, because it’s my life, it’s my past,” she told The Associated Press. The forthcoming document release, Lacerda hopes, will shed light on the experiences that have haunted her for decades.
The legislation signed by Trump on Wednesday compels the Justice Department to make public a trove of files accumulated over more than two decades of investigations into Epstein’s alleged sexual abuse of numerous underage girls and women. While the exact nature and extent of new information in the files remain uncertain, many of Epstein’s accusers see this as a long-overdue step towards transparency. For some, it promises the revelation of facts that have been hidden by legal settlements and government secrecy. However, the release also stirs complicated emotions, as survivors anticipate revisiting painful memories and confronting the possibility of further trauma.
The investigation into Epstein’s activities began in earnest in the mid-2000s, primarily in Palm Beach, Florida. Local police and the FBI were prompted to act after several underage girls came forward, alleging that Epstein had paid them for sex acts. In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to charges including procuring a minor for prostitution. Yet, a secretive deal with the U.S. attorney in Florida allowed Epstein to avoid federal prosecution, a controversy that has since fueled public outrage. Under this arrangement, Epstein served just over a year in custody, a sentence many viewed as far too lenient given the gravity of the allegations.
Among Epstein’s accusers is Jena-Lisa Jones, who says she was abused by Epstein in Palm Beach in 2002 when she was only 14 years old. Although she did not report the abuse to police at the time, Jones later joined a wave of accusers who sued Epstein and brought attention to his crimes. The Miami Herald’s 2018 investigative series on Epstein helped expose the details of the 2008 plea deal and the federal government’s failure to pursue the case aggressively. This media coverage reinvigorated the investigation, and in 2019, federal prosecutors in New York charged Epstein with sex trafficking.
Jones was interviewed by federal investigators and prepared to testify in court, hoping to reclaim some sense of control and power over her story. “It was very important for me to have my moment, for him to see my face and hear my words, and me have that control and power back,” she explained. Tragically, Epstein died by suicide in a federal jail cell in New York City in August 2019, before the case could proceed to trial. For Jones and many others, this loss of a public reckoning has made the forthcoming release of government files all the more vital. They see it as an alternative means to expose the truth and hold accountable those involved in Epstein’s criminal network.
While Epstein and his close associate Ghislaine Maxwell were the only individuals charged in connection with the abuse, some accusers have alleged that Epstein instructed them to have sex with other wealthy and powerful men. Jones has not made such claims herself but believes the documents could reveal a broader, more systemic scheme involving additional perpetrators. “I’m hoping they’re shaking a little bit and that they have what’s coming for them,” Jones said, expressing a desire for justice beyond Epstein alone.
Lacerda’s personal story, intertwined with the forthcoming files, reflects the complex impact of trauma on survivors. Having immigrated from Brazil, she was working multiple jobs to support her family the summer before starting ninth grade when a friend told her she could earn $300 by giving Epstein massages. The first time she massaged Epstein, he told her to remove her