(Photograph: Sipa Press/Rex Features)
Survivors of convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein broke down in tears Monday as they urged New York state lawmakers to close a legal gap that leaves them powerless to pursue compensation from his estate.
Four women appeared before state senators, recounting how Epstein exploited them before his 2019 federal arrest on sex trafficking charges. He died in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial.
Lara Blume McGee, an Arkansas woman who says she was sexually abused by Epstein while pursuing a modeling career in New York City, drew a clear distinction after the hearing. “It should not be a political issue. This is a human rights issue,” she told reporters.
Perhaps the most gripping testimony came from Glendys Espinal, a Bronx woman speaking publicly about Epstein’s alleged abuse for the first time. She described how Epstein’s estate has invoked the existing statute of limitations to deny her any financial recourse.
“The Epstein estate has refused to help me because they are arguing that the statute of limitations means that what happened to me is worth zero,” Espinal said, pausing repeatedly to compose herself as she testified.
Espinal said she was a high school sophomore when she first encountered Epstein, who lured her into “massages” before sexually assaulting her.
Two other survivors, Carine de Deus and Alexandra Golematis, also testified about alleged abuse at Epstein’s hands. The hearing centered on legislation sponsored by state Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brooklyn) that would update New York’s sex trafficking statutes. Under current law, victims cannot sue a deceased person’s estate for punitive damages.
Attorney Jordan Merson, who represents several of the women, called out politicians who have made noise about justice for Epstein’s victims without following through. “New York really has a chance to be a leader on this issue,” he said.
Myrie’s bill cleared the committee with unanimous support, including from Republican senators. However, a companion measure has yet to be introduced in the state Assembly, leaving its path to the governor’s desk uncertain before the legislative session ends June 4.
