Victims' rights attorney Gloria Allred told Newsmax on Wednesday that the public release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has compounded the trauma experienced by victims.
The situation raises new questions about accountability while deepening confusion over the Justice Department's handling of the case.
Allred, who has represented Epstein accusers for years, said she began advocating for victims long before federal authorities and members of Congress focused national attention on the financier's conduct.
"I've been involved in this for years, representing victims long before Congress or any of them even knew about this," Allred said on "Ed Henry: The Big Take."
Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.
Ghislaine Maxwell, his longtime associate, was convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking and related offenses for recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
On Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the department's handling of the Epstein files.
Allred said many survivors were manipulated and, in some cases, trafficked as minors.
"Some of them were sex-trafficked underage girls, meaning children exploited. It was horrible what they went through," she said.
She argued that true justice would require identifying anyone who "helped to inspire, support and enable" Epstein and Maxwell's activities.
"That's what we want to know," she said, calling for broader transparency.
Allred also criticized the release of the files, however, saying it has led to "further injustice" for survivors.
She asserted that the delay in releasing the documents was intended to allow authorities to redact identifying information to protect victims' privacy.
Instead, she said, sensitive materials were made public, including photographs and personal documents such as passports, driver's licenses, telephone numbers, and email addresses.
"The names of the survivors have been exposed," she said. "It's been so traumatic to the survivors that I can't tell you."
Allred also questioned whether further criminal accountability is forthcoming.
She cited statements from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche indicating there would be no prosecutions and no pending investigations even as Bondi has said investigations are continuing.
"There's so much contradiction," Allred said, adding that the conflicting statements undermine public trust.
"Nobody can have confidence or trust in this Department of Justice," she said.
She said survivors and members of the public are seeking transparency and accountability as the fallout from the document release continues.
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Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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