In an emotional and historic moment on Capitol Hill, Epstein survivor Jena-Lisa Jones stood silently in the Senate gallery clutching a photo of her teenage self — the same age she was when she says Jeffrey Epstein and his associates first exploited her. Moments later, senators voted overwhelmingly to declassify and release every remaining Epstein file, a move long demanded by victims and advocates seeking justice after decades of silence and cover-ups.
The 99–1 vote, confirmed by The New York Times, marks the most significant step toward transparency since Epstein’s 2019 death in a New York jail. As the chamber erupted in applause, cameras captured Jones, now 37, wiping tears from her face. “That girl deserved the truth,” she told CNN. “And now, finally, she might get it.”
“Epstein survivor Jena-Lisa Jones holds a photo of her 15-year-old self as Senate votes 99–1 to release every Epstein file.” @Reuters
For victims like Jones, the vote represents something deeper than politics — it’s a moment of reckoning. “It’s not just about Epstein,” she said. “It’s about every person who helped him, every name that’s been hidden, every life he ruined. We deserve to know who they were protecting.”
Jones, who testified in private sessions before the Senate subcommittee earlier this year, said she brought the photo to remind lawmakers of what was at stake. “I wanted them to see her face — not the tabloids, not the money, just the child who thought she was safe,” she told BBC News. “Because there were hundreds of us. Maybe thousands.”
According to the resolution, the files — which include emails, visitor logs, sealed testimonies, and financial transactions — will be made public in phases over the next 90 days. Lawmakers across party lines called the release “a moral necessity.” Even longtime political rivals stood together on the vote. “This is not about left or right,” said Senator Ted Cruz. “It’s about light versus darkness.”
The only dissenting vote came from Senator Rand Paul, who claimed releasing the documents could “violate privacy rights.” His objection was met with an audible groan from the gallery, where survivors and advocates had gathered. “Privacy?” one woman shouted. “Where was our privacy when they sold us?”
“‘Where was our privacy when they sold us?’ — survivors erupt after Rand Paul casts lone ‘no’ vote.” @MSNBC
Outside the Capitol, hundreds of protesters held candles and signs reading “Release the Names” and “Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied.” Many were survivors who flew in from across the country. Among them, Jones spoke briefly to the crowd, her voice shaking: “For years they said our stories didn’t matter. Well, today, Congress told them we do.”
Social media has since exploded with support for Jones’s quiet act of defiance. A photo of her holding the faded snapshot — taken when she was just 15 — has gone viral, with millions calling it “the image that broke Washington’s silence.” One viral post on X read: “That girl in the picture was invisible for 20 years. Today she was seen.”
Senators said the first batch of documents will include Epstein’s private flight logs, visitor lists from his New York mansion, and correspondence between Epstein and his network of high-profile associates. “We expect shocking revelations,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “The American people deserve the full, unredacted truth.”
For survivors like Jones, that truth comes with both hope and fear. “I want justice,” she told NBC News, “but I also know what happens when powerful people get desperate. I just pray we’re ready for whatever comes next.”
“Jena-Lisa Jones says releasing the Epstein files isn’t revenge — it’s redemption for the girls who were silenced.” @guardianus
Legal experts caution that the release could reignite investigations worldwide, as the files are expected to include communications with figures in finance, entertainment, and politics. “This could be bigger than Watergate,” said former federal prosecutor Elena Torres. “For the first time, the public will see who Epstein’s enablers really were — not just names, but actions.”
Many survivors have expressed mixed emotions about the coming disclosure. “We’ve waited so long,” said one woman outside the Capitol, holding a sign that read “I was 14.” “But part of me is terrified to relive it. The truth sets you free, but it also hurts.”
Jones echoed that sentiment in a late-night post to Instagram: “For every survivor who can’t speak — this is for you. For the girls who didn’t make it — we’re still here. We’re still fighting.”
In one of the most shared clips from the day, she can be seen walking down the marble steps of the Capitol, clutching her photo to her chest as supporters applaud. “I kept thinking about that girl in the picture,” she told ABC News. “She thought the world forgot her. But not anymore.”
“‘That girl deserved the truth.’ — Jena-Lisa Jones leaves Senate after emotional vote to release Epstein files.” @CBSNews
As night fell, the Capitol dome glowed against a sky heavy with storm clouds. Outside, survivors embraced one another through tears, some whispering prayers, others standing in stunned silence. For them, the release of the Epstein files isn’t just about exposing corruption — it’s about reclaiming stolen lives.
“For the first time,” Jones said softly, “I feel like the truth is louder than the lies.”
