As the U.S. Congress votes to release the Epstein files this week, the country waits with bated breath to see the names associated with the disgraced financier and convicted sex trafficker. However, there are some missing files in the public obsession with the case: the victims.
Jennifer Weiner made this critical point this week in the New York Times. While their names were initially redacted from the files released earlier, Weiner reminds the world of these brave women: Courtney Wild, Rachel Benavidez, Michelle Licata, Maria Farmer, Annie Farmer, Liz Stein, Jess Michaels, Marina Lacerda, Danielle Bensky, Anouska De Georgiou, Shawna Rivera and so many others unnamed.
Epstein and his associates often referred to the girls using racist and misogynistic descriptions, but the public must never forget these victims are real people with names and lives. In several cases, some of the girls were underage, one as young as 14 years old.
When the earlier files were released, the news that a 14-year-old was within the documents confirmed that Epstein and some of his associates were pedophiles. However, it did not stop conservative media pundit Megyn Kelly from spinning the news.
“He was into the barely-legal type,” Kelly said on her show. “Like, he liked 15-year-old girls. And I realize this is disgusting. I’m definitely not trying to make an excuse for this. I’m just giving you facts that he wasn’t into, like, eight-year-olds.” Kelly has since received numerous condemnations for her remarks.
According to the nonprofit organization, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the average age of children being trafficked for sex is 15. Kelly must not have found this stat before she made her remarks.
The Department of Homeland Security defines sex trafficking as “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age.”
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children recently reported that child sex trafficking is increasing after the arrest of Epstein. In 2019, NCMEC received 11,798 reports of child sex trafficking. The number of reports has more than doubled over the past 6 years: 15,879 (2020), 16,033 (2021), 18,336 (2022), 17,353 (2023), and 27,800 (2024).
Child sex trafficking is an issue that needs to be taken seriously, not just as an opportunity to score political points. Many of my progressive colleagues are focusing on how the Epstein files will hurt President Donald Trump and other influential figures, instead of focusing on legislation that will strengthen child trafficking laws and place harsher penalties on convicted offenders.
While I applaud the release of the files, the investigation of every name mentioned in them (both conservative and liberal), and the potential prosecution of those named, we would do well not to place more emphasis on the political fallout than on the actual crimes being committed and the victims of these crimes.
CBS News Justice Department Correspondent Scott McFarlane reported earlier this year that politicizing the Epstein files could potentially hurt future reporting, investigations, and prosecutions of child sex trafficking cases. He concluded his report by stating, “We have not heard from the victims enough.” Agreed.
As people of good faith, we need to remain diligent that the focus of cases such as Epstein’s remains precise and targeted on what really matters. There is no doubt about the political fallout from the release of these files, but the reality is that sex crimes against minors must not get lost in the political maneuvering.
Crimes have been committed, and the victims are real.
Reflecting on this story, the words of Jesus continue to come to mind: “If any of you cause one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea” (Mark 9:42).
Jesus was not condemning the little ones; his emphasis was on the perpetrators of sin. He was condemning those with power and authority over others. The powerful and wealthy often harbor the false belief that they can treat other humans with disdain and irrelevance.
Jesus reminds us that the victims of abuse matter.
Jesus sees them.
Jesus hears them.
Jesus names them.
Jesus reminds them they matter to God; therefore, they matter to him.
As the Epstein story continues to play out, people of good faith need to keep this in mind. Survivors of Epstein and his associates need to be heard and affirmed for their bravery and boldness.
Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel reminded a generation: “I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
As for me, I will speak up for the survivors of abuse. How about you?
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