1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

Let’s remember what the Epstein scandal is fundamentally about: rich, powerful men sexually abusing children and using their power to insulate themselves from accountability. This is a moment which could unite progressives and conservatives in believing the women who bravely come forward to share their stories. In fact, let’s listen to some of them right now, in statements given under oath at the August 27, 2019 court hearing shortly after Epstein’s death, at which the charges against him were dismissed: Courtney Wild: “Jeffrey Epstein sexually abused me for years, robbing me of my innocence and mental health. Jeffrey Epstein has done nothing but manipulate our justice system, where he has never been held accountable for his actions, even to this day." Jane Doe #4: “I met Jeffrey Epstein at a very vulnerable place in my life, and whatever the outcome is with everything, I just wanted to express that we, the victims, we will always carry irreparable damage and pain throughout our lives after this. It's something that's never going to go away. You know, whoever we marry in our life, whatever future we have in our life, it's always going to be something that's always there for us. And I'm very nervous right now. And Jeffrey Epstein, he took away the chance I had at having the future I had envisioned for myself as a young girl, and I think many of us here today will never fully heal from that pain and the heartache that we'll continue carrying with us. So I just wanted to say that. It's something that, it’s irreparable.” Chauntae Davies (2019): “I began my massage, trying not to let him smell my fear and obvious discomfort, but before I knew what was happening, he grabbed onto my wrist and tugged me towards the bed. I tried to pull away, but he was unbuttoning my shorts and pulling my body onto his already naked body faster than I could think. I was searching for words but all I could say was meek, ‘No, please stop,’ but that just seemed to excite him more. He continued to rape me, and when he was finished, he hopped off and went to the shower... I cried myself to sleep that night. I spent two weeks vomiting, almost to death, in a Los Angeles hospital after that first encounter.” This isn’t some gossipy pulp story; this is a horrifying tale of a powerful man abusing vulnerable women and girls. Many Americans—across party lines—believe powerful people are being protected in the Epstein case. What will you do to restore trust in the justice system?