U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison Stands with Survivors Ahead of Vote to Release Epstein Files

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03) spoke at a press conference along with survivors, advocates, and members of the House and Senate ahead of the House’s vote to release the Epstein files. Rep. Morrison joined the Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA) as they delivered a letter bringing nearly 50 organizations dedicated to ending child abuse, sexual violence, and human trafficking together to call on Congress to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act and demand the release of the files.

Congresswoman Morrison is one of the 218 U.S. Representatives who signed the discharge petition to force the House to vote to release the files after Speaker Mike Johnson and President Trump refused to bring justice to the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Rep. Morrison met with some of Epstein's survivors earlier this fall – and again today, alongside members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus. Rep. Morrison has been advocating for the release of the Epstein files to ensure that the victims get justice, that the perpetrators are held accountable, that the American people get the transparency they have demanded, and that we do not allow corrupt leaders to cover up for the rich and powerful.

Good morning. 

I’m Kelly Morrison, Congresswoman for Minnesota’s Third District – it’s good to be here with all of you this morning on this incredibly important day.

Thank you so much to the Sexual Violence Prevention Association for bringing us together.

And so much gratitude to Teresa for being here today. 

Your bravery, selflessness, and advocacy are truly remarkable. 

Your courage to speak out and stand up for others is the only reason we are in this position today, finally able to try and bring the justice and transparency that is far too long overdue.

And thank you to the Sexual Violence Prevention Association for delivering this letter today – bringing nearly 50 organizations dedicated to ending child abuse, sexual violence, and human trafficking together to call on Congress to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act and demand the release of the files.

Because that is exactly what today is about. Standing up against child abuse, sexual violence, and human trafficking.

Today is an opportunity for us to send an important message here in DC, across the country, and across the world.

Today is our opportunity to say: no matter who you are, no matter how rich you are, no matter how powerful you are, 

You are not above the law.

No amount of money, power, connections, or corruption can buy you a free pass to abuse children or sell human beings.

For decades, the government and people in power have been complicit in covering up the horrific abuses of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Today, we will say: no more. 

The time has come for the victims to get the justice and the transparency they are asking for and deserve.  

The time has come for the perpetrators to be held accountable.

The time has come for the corrupt leaders who were complicit in facilitating this to be exposed.

The time has come for the American people to get the transparency they have demanded.

And we have to ask ourselves: if we don’t get this right, if we don’t release the files and bring justice to the victims and hold the perpetrators accountable, what message would that send?

Today marks a new day. 

Today we say: this will no longer stand. 

We are putting the rich and powerful on notice. We are saying you cannot – and will not – get away with exploitation and abuse.

There is nothing more deeply American than the notion that everyone has equal rights under the law. 

And today, we are reasserting our rights as Americans.  

I met with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell alongside members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus earlier this fall. Their stories are harrowing. 

Their testimony is powerful. 

Their bravery is unmatched. 

We have seen the lengths the rich and powerful will go to to cover up their crimes. 

But these women are putting everything on the line simply to ensure that we never allow this to happen to anyone else ever again. 

Today, every single Member of the U.S. House of Representatives will go on record to say whether they will be complicit in a coverup protecting pedophiles and the corrupt rich and powerful, or if they stand on the side of justice, truth, transparency, and the American people.

It should not be lost, however, that the only reason we are having to take this vote is because the Trump Administration is refusing to comply with a subpoena and release the files.

The President and his Administration are legally required to release the files to Congress and could do so today - they could have released them at any time since he was sworn in!  

Not only has he refused to comply with the subpoena, he and the Speaker of the House have tried to block the release of the files at every turn – going so far as to shut down the House of Representatives for more than a month.  

But Americans understand that this is simply not a partisan issue. 

This is about our very humanity.

I hope to see this pass with a unanimous vote in the House today.

And I expect the Senate to take it up immediately, and pass it with the support of every single Senator.

And then, the President must sign it into law, and finally release the files, so that the survivors can finally get the justice they have been denied for far too long.