A survivor of convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein has openly shared her experience following the release of new photographs.
Epstein was infamous for his connections with numerous affluent and influential figures, including businessman Richard Branson, former US president Bill Clinton, and current US president Donald Trump.
The House Oversight Committee has now unveiled images related to Epstein that have never been seen publicly before.
The released images do not show any sexual misconduct, and there is no indication that any of the women in the photos were minors at the time. Trump and Clinton have not been charged with any crimes related to their links with Epstein.
The set of 19 images includes pictures of notable personalities such as Bill Clinton, Richard Branson, Bill Gates, and Donald Trump, as well as former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, among others.
Following the release, Liz Stein, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein who now advocates for others affected by human trafficking, discussed the emotional impact of viewing these images, which serve as a painful reminder of her past trauma and that of other survivors.
In an emotional interview, she expressed how challenging it is for her and others to confront these memories triggered by the images.
“This can be really difficult for us,” she told CNN. “When we’re seeing these photos, things that might seem like they don’t matter to the general public can really be meaningful to us.
“I was talking to a survivor earlier who said to the rest of the world that just looks like a room, but to me that’s the phone that I picked up to call for help.”
Despite the difficulty, she emphasized the necessity for the public to be aware of the events that transpired.
She stated: “These things can be really incredibly triggering for us, and at the same time you realize how important it is for this to all come out.”
She continued: “These images can be really horrific, there are some images that were released today that were particularly difficult for me, and we’re going to see that happen as information is released.
“But we are really standing together united in that fact that it is so important that this information comes out, and we’re willing to sit in that discomfort while it does.”
The images were published as part of an extensive investigation into Epstein and the breadth of his reach.
The exact timing and authorship of the images are unknown, but they offer further insight into the environment surrounding Epstein, who died in prison on August 10, 2019.