State of The Union Appearance by Survivors, New Petition Increase Pressure on Pam Bondi to Release All Epstein Files
For Immediate Release: February 24, 2026
Contact: media@fwdshift.com
Now 67 days past the DOJ deadline, Trump and Bondi’s continued refusal to release all the Epstein files disrespects the survivors in attendance and the public who are calling for justice.
UltraViolet Action, a leading national women-led gender-justice organization responsible for numerous impactful victories against sexual predators like Harvey Weinstein, R Kelly, and Bill O’Reilly, released the following statement after the launch of a petition demanding that the House Oversight Committee hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in inherent contempt to force her to comply with federal law and release all of the Epstein files:
“We are in solidarity with the courageous survivors showing up in defiance of Trump’s attempts to change the conversation at the State of the Union tonight,” said Elisa Batista, Campaign Director at UltraViolet Action. “Their bravery represents the will of millions of Americans who are demanding accountability not just for all those who enabled Jeffrey Epstein, but also for public officials like Attorney General Pam Bondi who continue to protect those abusers and enablers by refusing to release all of the Epstein files.”
Despite clear language in the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act requiring Trump’s Justice Department (DOJ) to release all the files related to the late serial pedophile Jeffrey Epstein by December 19, 2025, now, 67 days after the deadline, the DOJ has only published roughly half of the files—a flagrant violation of the law and an insult to survivors.
More disturbing still are recent reports that among the files withheld by Bondi are more than 50 pages of FBI interviews and other notes from conversations with a woman who accused Trump of sexual abuse decades ago when she was a minor. Those same reports found that the Justice Department had also taken down from the public database or removed documents involving accusations against Jeffrey Epstein that also mention President Trump.
“When it comes to the Epstein class, the real state of the union remains unchanged: These powerful abusers and enablers believe they will be shielded by their wealth, networks, or influence,” Batista said. “Now, like before, it’s been the fearless insistence of survivors that’s stood in the way of efforts by politicians like Trump and Bondi to sweep the full legacy of Epstein’s child sex trafficking network under the rug.”
Over decades, more than 1,000 survivors have stepped forward to expose Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse and the powerful network that protected him, uncovering a web of individuals and institutions that maintained ties to him despite credible allegations. Even after authorities convicted him in 2008 for soliciting sex from a minor, influential figures continued to associate with him, lend him legitimacy, and enable his continued access to power.
Trump and MAGA political leaders then weaponized Epstein’s horrific crimes to energize their base, turning survivors into political props. But after private emails surfaced alleging that Trump personally knew several of the young women who had been abused and trafficked, those same leaders attempted to distance themselves and downplay Epstein’s legacy rather than confront the full scope of the harm.
“No matter how much Trump and Bondi try to distract us from the fact that they broke the law to keep the public in the dark about the extent of Epstein’s child abuse, we, survivors and allies, will not allow them to forget their role in offering cover for Epstein and his enablers. We will not stop asking questions or demanding transparency and justice,” Batista said. “Doubling down, as they have, on withholding information is a slap in the face to survivors everywhere and makes us gravely concerned about how these files might once more be used as a political tool, rather than a pathway for justice.”
UltraViolet Action has been a leading voice in the movement to hold abusers accountable and end gender-based violence, fighting alongside survivors and achieving victories against sexual predators like Harvey Weinstein, Bill O’Reilly, and Andrew Tate.
Through a coordinated series of petitions and accountability campaigns, UltraViolet Action is calling for transparency and institutional review regarding all prominent figures with documented ties to Epstein. The organization recently launched a series of petitions to bring accountability to Larry Summers, who has stepped down from his roles at Harvard University and OpenAI following massive public pressure, including from UltraViolet community members, as well as Epstein enablers Alan Dershowitz and Casey Wasserman. Recently, UltraViolet called on CBS to fire Dr. Peter Attia after revelations of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein surfaced and celebrated his resignation as a victory for survivors and accountability.
The organization’s latest petition, which delivers constituents’ signatures and comments in real-time, demands that members of the House Oversight Committee hold Bondi in inherent contempt to force her to comply with the law and release all of the Epstein files.
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UltraViolet Action is a women-led gender justice 501c4 organization, with an online community of more than 1 million members nationwide. We combine organizing, technology, creative campaigning, and people power to win real-world changes for women and gender-expansive people.
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While Donald Trump and Pam Bondi want to change the subject, we refuse to let them off the hook for protecting predators. That’s why we're flying airplane banners to keep Trump’s ties to child sex abuser and trafficker Jeffrey Epstein in the news. Epstein’s more than 1,000 survivors deserve transparency and justice. Your gift today will keep the spotlight on Trump’s and Bondi’s deflections and center survivors in the public narrative!