Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s decades-long sexual abuse are warning that death threats they have already received are likely to increase as the US prepares to release Justice Department files tied to the disgraced financier.
In a statement titled “What we’re bracing for” published on Thursday, November 19, 2025, 18 named survivors and 10 Jane Does urged law enforcement to investigate threats and ensure their protection. “Many of us have already received death threats and other threats of harm. We are bracing for these to escalate,” the statement read.
The survivors have also criticized attempts to blame them for the abuse they endured, highlighting that Epstein and his enablers manipulated the narrative to escape accountability. They are pushing for full disclosure of the Justice Department files, stressing that selective release would allow key figures involved to avoid scrutiny.
The renewed spotlight comes after President Donald Trump signed a bill on Wednesday mandating the Justice Department to release all Epstein-related files. The legislation had been unanimously approved by the US Senate the day before. The Department now has 30 days to make the documents public, which could implicate high-profile figures across politics, entertainment, and business.
For survivors like Marina Lacerda, the file release represents both a chance for justice and an opportunity to confront her past trauma. Lacerda says she was just 14 when Epstein began abusing her at his New York mansion. “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.
Epstein, who pleaded guilty to procuring a minor for prostitution in 2008, died in his New York City jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. High-profile survivors, including Virginia Giuffre, faced intimidation campaigns before her death by suicide in April, underscoring the dangers that survivors continue to face.
As the countdown to the files’ release begins, Epstein’s survivors are calling for legal support, protection, and full transparency to ensure justice is served.
