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Soon, Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's Abuse to Speak Out Publicly; Jeffrey Epstein Survivors Speak Out; Showdown Escalating Over National Guard Troops to Chicago. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired September 03, 2025 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[10:00:00]

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, breaking their silence. Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein are sharing their stories on Capitol Hill as pressure intensifies for the Justice Department to release all of the files in this case.

And the Chicago showdown escalates. President Trump vows to deploy National Guard troops to crack down on crime as local politicians prepare to fight back, accusing him of abusing his power.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Plus, strengthening the alliance. President Trump will soon welcome the new president of Poland to the White House as he grows increasingly frustrated with Vladimir Putin's lack of progress to end the war in Ukraine.

And resign now, more than 1,000 current and former HHS workers are demanding RFK Jr. stepped down. They're accusing him of putting the health of all Americans, a direct quote, putting the health of all Americans at risk.

Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer with Pamela Brown, and you're in The Situation Room.

And we begin with the breaking news, survivors of Jeffrey Epstein will soon speak out at a news conference up on Capitol Hill. It's supposed to happen any moment now. They'll be joined by a bipartisan duo of key members of Congress, Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna. The two are trying to force a house vote on the full release of the Epstein files despite resistance from the Trump administration.

Some of those survivors met with members of the House Oversight Committee and the House speaker, Mike Johnson, yesterday behind closed doors for more than two hours, their accounts leaving Congresswoman Nancy Mace in tears. She went on to post on social media this quote, since it's already being reported, yes, I left the Oversight briefing with Epstein victims early as a recent survivor, not two years in, I had a very difficult time listening to their stories, full-blown panic attack, sweating, hyperventilating, shaking, I can't breathe. I feel the immense pain of how hard all victims are fighting for themselves because we know absolutely no one will fight for us, end quote.

Several survivors and their families are demanding more transparency from the federal government.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENA-LISA JONES, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Is there video footage from my own stuff that happened to me? Is that -- are they all sitting on that, child pornography?

ASHLEY RUBRIGHT, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: When the FBI or the government, whoever's going through all the files, I'm like, do they see me?

SKY ROBERTS, BROTHER OF VIRGINIA GIUFFRE: They're creating this perception of transparency, but reality is, is it's not there. And I think what this is doing is it's showing our government, it's showing the American people that we will not back down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The Oversight Committee released some 30,000 pages of Epstein-related materials from the U.S. Justice Department last night, but critics argue most of that information was already public.

Let's go live right now to CNN's Chief Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju up on Capitol Hill, and CNN's Kara Scannell.

Manu, starting with you, what's the latest you're hearing from key members of Congress about the Epstein case?

MANU RAJU, CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's an escalating clash happened within the House Republican Conference about how to proceed here in the aftermath of the release by the House Oversight Committee of those roughly 33,000 pages from the Justice Department that they had to subpoena to get because of the criticism from folks like Thomas Massie of Kentucky. He said that that is simply public information for the most part, and really doesn't reveal much, and that there's much more information he says must be released, which is why he is urging Republicans aside with his effort, to circumvent Republican leadership and force a vote on his bill to compel the release of additional files on the Jeffrey Epstein case.

This is something that has caused significant pushback from Republican leaders and the White House. Just moments ago, I'm told from sources inside a closed door meeting that Speaker Mike Johnson urged Republicans not to sign on to that Massie effort, instead urging them instead to back a separate Republican bill to support the ongoing House probe. That's something that Massie calls political cover.

Now, the White House has warned Republicans not the side with Massie, even a White House official telling reporters last night that this would be viewed as an act of hostility.

[10:05:03]

Asked about that earlier today, Thomas Massie pushed back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REP. THOMAS MASSIE (R-KY): I do find it interesting that the three co-sponsors are women. Maybe they have immunity from the threats from the White House. I do think it's disgusting that the White House is called their co-sponsorship a hostile act now. So, you have the White House telling women who are trying to help women who've been sexually exploited, that that's somehow a hostile act.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAJU: Now, in order for Massie to succeed here, he will need the support of six Republicans to force a vote in the full House with all Democrats. And right now, he has three Republicans who are backing this effort. Several other ones who have supported calling for more disclosure, more transparency in his Epstein case, have so far not signed on to his effort amid this pressure campaign from the White House and Republican leadership, which is raising questions about whether Massie can ultimately get there.

But he believes this news conference that's going to happen in a matter of minutes here, Wolf, could change the dynamic when we hear directly from some of these victims for the first time about everything they experienced in the Jeffrey Epstein controversy.

So, the question is going to be ultimately, Wolf, will that change the dynamic here on Capitol Hill or will it simply lead to what we're seeing now, this stalemate, this internal battle that's happening within the GOP and that the White House hopes will end sometime soon?

BLITZER: All right. Manu Raju up on Capitol Hill, thank you very, very much. Pamela.

BROWN: All right. Let's bring in Kara Scannell to explain what was actually in these Epstein records from the Justice Department that was released from the Oversight Committee. Kara, what can you tell us?

KARA SCANNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Pam, our team went through these records last night and most of the information, if not all of it, was already stuff that is public. You know, that includes flight logs, it includes court records from Ghislaine Maxwell's prosecution. She was -- she went on trial and so much information came out during the trial. But these documents include even trial transcripts, legal briefs, all information that has been in the public docket and has been well reported on for years. It also includes some jail surveillance footage of Jeffrey Epstein. There was also video footage of the Palm Beach Police officers searching Jeffrey Epstein's home in Palm Beach.

You know, there were depositions including the audio files from the recent deposition that Ghislaine Maxwell had just given to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. So, all of this in the public record, no client list, no new information relating to the investigation, either back in the early 2000s or the more recent ones into Epstein and when he was charged in 2019, and then Maxwell. So, a lot of it is already in the public domain. You know, there are efforts, as you said, to try to get more information out there. Survivors who have spoken with our Randi Kaye and others have said that they want information to come out. They just want their names to be redacted, so their identities are protected. Pam?

BROWN: All right. Kara Scannell, thank you so much.

And to be clear there is no evidence that is publicly available that Trump did anything wrong or illegal in his interactions with Epstein. Wolf?

BLITZER: And they were just teens when Jeffrey Epstein's abuse began. And now, for the first time, we're hearing from some of those survivors. In this Situation Room special report, CNN's Randi Kaye spoke to three of them about what Epstein put them through, the concerns they have about releasing all the files and what they want to see from the government.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Between 15 and 17?

RUBRIGHT: I was 14.

KAYE: 14. Ashley, you've never shared your story publicly. Why is the right time now to come forward, do you think?

RUBRIGHT: I think now is a good time because of how the climate's changed in the public towards us.

COURNEY WILD, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Every time we see on my social media or when we go out anywhere, it takes you back to when you were, molested by him.

KAYE: The women's therapists join them for the interview.

RANDEE KOGAN, THERAPIST: It's almost a form of imprisonment.

Even now, decades later, it's still difficult for these women to comprehend what happened to them.

WILD: There's been a sense of detachment there. I have to remember that this was me that this happened to. This wasn't like Courtney. You know, this is actually me. He was good at that and he was good at making that very weird situation, maybe not the weirdest thing, until the abuse happened. The first time the abuse happens, I just remember how traumatized I was and how disgusted I felt within myself.

JONES: I associated re relationships with men with money. It's a very big manipulation thing when you're 14 and broke. And then you put those two and two together, and it kind of runs your life.

RUBRIGHT: And everybody that signed my yearbooks before I went was like, have a great summer. Let's chill. It was, you know, all positive. And then after I went, all the comments were different. It was, I'm really worried about you.

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I just became very angry and I acted out a lot.

WILD: It just digs deep. You're figuring out life, who you are. And just to be used and abused is just so painful.

KAYE: There was more pain in 2007 when Epstein, who was facing federal charges for abusing young girls, cut a sweetheart deal with the government to avoid federal prosecution. The deal was signed off on by then-U.S. Attorney in Miami Alexander Acosta, who, in 2017, became labor secretary in the first Trump administration.

WILD: I feel like Alex Acosta needs to be held accountable.

KAYE: And these days with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker who served as Epstein's madam back in the headlines --

JONES: There's worlds of emotions. So, one day it can be like, I'm super angry, and then one day you're like, I'm going to lay in my bed and I'm going to cry forever because this is never going to go away.

KAYE: None of these women ever met Maxwell, but they have strong opinions about her.

Do any of you have any doubt about Ghislaine Maxwell's role in Epstein's crimes?

JONES: Absolutely not.

RUBRIGHT: Absolutely not.

WILD: I heard the interview that she just gave with the assistant attorney general, and the thing she said I thought was absolutely disgusting, it just makes me sick, that she had no idea anything inappropriate had ever gone on.

KAYE: Which you don't believe?

RUBRIGHT: There's no way anybody was in his house and is oblivious to anything that happened. She kind of fawned over President Trump.

JONES: The exact manipulation that she did to her victims.

KAYE: Why do you think she said those things about President Trump?

JONES: Because she wants the pardon. The fact that she's even got changed prisons, I mean, she should be in the worst prison in the United States.

KAYE: Maxwell, in her interview, was asked if Epstein was a creepy guy, and she said that women would not have been there if he was creepy.

JONES: We were children. We were not women. We were not adults.

KAYE: At one point, she also says that Epstein preferred younger people, not because of anything sexual, but because they were, quote, invigorating and up-to-date on music. Did he ever talk to any of you about music?

WILD: No. And if he did, he was naked.

JONES: Yes.

WILD: Which is creepy.

JONES: He talked about what he wanted sexually, not about music.

KAYE: Last week, the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed Epstein's estate as well as its two executors. The committee is seeking documents including the so-called birthday book Epstein was given for his 50th birthday, as well as flight logs from his aircraft, any potential client list and videos or images from security cameras at his homes.

JONES: Why hasn't it been done before? Why has it taken this long?

WILD: I think it was a wonderful idea.

KAYE: Still, despite them wanting transparency, there is some concern about what could be made public.

JONES: Is there video footage from my own stuff that happened to me? Is that -- are they all sitting on that, child pornography?

RUBRIGHT: When the FBI or the government, whoever's going through all the files, I'm like, do they see me, you know?

KAYE: Did Epstein ask all of you to recruit other young girls?

WILD: He asked me and I did recruit.

KAYE: How do you feel about that?

WILD: I feel so disgusting about that. I felt like I was making him happy or proud, and it was like just somebody I wanted in my corner that I could count on. I felt like he was there for me at the time. My parents were homeless.

KAYE: These women say they were all surprised in 2019 when Epstein was arrested in New York on federal sex trafficking charges. He was found dead soon after in his jail cell. Authorities ruled it a suicide.

WILD: I felt guilty when he died because I asked the judge not to release him and he didn't. And then --

KAYE: Even after what he had done to you?

WILD: I know, it's gross, right? KAYE: Randee, how do you explain that?

KOGAN: That is what grooming looks like. There was a lot of conflictual feelings when Epstein died for many of the survivors.

WILD: It's really sad because he has just been glamorized.

JONES: Sensationalized, celebritized.

WILD: And he had the money. He had the mystery. He had this operation that everybody turned their cheek. It's like he just had the world under his thumb.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: Our thanks to Randi Kaye for that powerful report.

BLITZER: So powerful, so moving, indeed.

BROWN: Yes.

BLITZER: And still ahead, we're watching Capitol Hill right now as survivors of Jeffrey Epstein are expected to speak out. We'll be joined by the House Oversight Committee Chairman, Congressman James Comer, to discuss more about the documents his committee has released.

Plus, quote, we're going in. That's what President Trump is now saying about sending National Guard troops to Chicago. We'll speak with Illinois Congressman Mike Quigley. That's coming up next.

Stay with us. You're in The Situation Room.

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BROWN: Breaking news. Moments ago, are cameras caught up with Republican Congressman Thomas Massie. He is trying to force a house vote on the full release of the Jeffrey Epstein files despite resistance from the Trump administration.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAJU: Just last question for me. The -- what additional information are you looking to get beyond the 33,000 page? What is actually out there that the administration is withholding right now?

REP. THOMAS MASSIE (R-KY): Well, how about this? This is the flight logs, they're withholding who was on these planes. Like this is a document that's publicly available. Go find it on their website. They are redacting things to prevent embarrassment. They're not redacting things to protect victims. And in the process of preventing embarrassment, they're hiding some criminals.

RAJU: Embarrassment to the president?

MASSIE: No embarrassment to rich and powerful individuals who are connected to the president.

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I don't think the president is redacted here. I don't think he's implicated in these files, but I think his donors are, I think his friends are. And I think our own DOJ and government are implicated in this too.

So --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: So, there's Thomas Massie. DOJ, for its part, says those redactions are protect any victim information or to protect victim information. And also, Wolf, we're expecting this press conference with some of the Epstein survivors coming up at around 10:30 A.M. Eastern Time.

BLITZER: We'll have live coverage of that. I'm anxious to hear what they have to say.

BROWN: There's a live picture --

BLITZER: Coming in. All right, we'll stand by for that.

In the meantime, there's other important news we're following, quote, we're going in. That's what President Trump is now saying after being asked yesterday whether he'd send National Guard troops to Chicago to combat crime. President Trump isn't giving an exact date when that would happen, but officials in Illinois say they're ready to take the administration to court.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. J.B. PRITKZER (D-IL): There is no emergency that warrants deployment of troops. We are ready to fight troop deployments in court, and we will do everything possible to ensure that agents operating inside the confines of this state do so in a legal and ethical manner.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: I want to bring in Democratic Congressman Mike Quigley of Illinois. He represents a portion of Chicago. Congressman, thanks so much for joining us.

I know you've called any troop deployments by the Trump administration a power grab by Trump, but the president claims this isn't political, saying he has a, quote, obligation to protect the country. How do you respond to him?

REP. MIKE QUIGLEY (D-IL): Yes, I agree with Governor Pritzker. It's hard to see this other than a stunt to distract from Epstein, inflation, failed foreign policy, but on the other hand, look, Illinois, a blue state, like red states, has sought help to no avail. The fact of the matter is they spent enough money in L.A. with this deployment to hire 2,000 police officers in Chicago or to do anti- violence programs, like former Secretary Arne Duncan runs, Chicago Cred. The people involved with his program, 71 percent less likely to have a re-arrest. So, if the president's serious about this, we'll take the government's help because we are concerned about safe communities.

BLITZER: As you know, Congressman, Chicago Police say seven people were killed and dozens more wounded, gunshot wounds, over the Labor Day weekend. What do you say to critics who argue that what leaders in Chicago are now doing simply isn't working?

QUIGLEY: Look, there's not a question that red states and blue states, red and blue cities need help. These are very serious concerns in my own communities. We get that. But this isn't the plan. The fact is the National Guard aren't trained police officers.

There's a way to bring additional officers on board, anti-violence programs. And, oh, by the way, the violence that took place in Chicago over the last weekend was all gun violence. There's still no law against gun trafficking. There's still no universal background checks. So, there is an effective way to have our communities be safer.

I was able to get money for bulletproof vests for Chicago Police officers, improve squad car technology. There's a way to be tough on crime and address these issues, but this looks more like a stunt because you know you can't do it forever, and you know they're not police officers, and you know they're not going to get to the root cause of these problems. We can do that if we work together.

BLITZER: This week, a federal court ruled that the Trump's use of the National Guard in Los Angeles was simply illegal. Do you think that will stop the president from sending in troops to Chicago?

QUIGLEY: Absolutely not. I mean, the fact of the matter is the president uses statistics in a way that reminds you that when he gets in the room with a truth, a fight breaks out. And he really has no regard for the rule of law. He really didn't even have authority in Washington, D.C. That's only -- that authority in D.C. lies with Congress. He clearly didn't have it in L.A. or in Chicago. But I just -- I want to reinforce, we would like the government's help in addressing these issues. What I'm telling folks is this is an expensive waste of time. And it's a lost opportunity to really do something that would work for all Chicago and all of our country.

BLITZER: Congressman Mike Quigley, thanks so much for joining us.

QUIGLEY: Thank you.

BLITZER: Pamela?

BROWN: And coming up right here in The Situation Room, we're going to speak to House Oversight Chairman Congressman James Comer after his committee released thousands of pages of Epstein files.

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And any moment, we'll hear from Epstein survivors.

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BROWN: We are following some breaking news on Capitol Hill. You see it right here. Any moment, survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse will speak out publicly. Accompanying the women are Republican Congressman Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna. We also saw Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene there.

But the two men are trying to force a vote on their legislation, seeking to release all of the files in the Epstein case.

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