New York Times (US) February 24, 2026

Epstein Victims to Attend State of the Union Amid File Release Calls

Documents released in the Epstein files investigation.

Key Takeaways

▶ More than a dozen Jeffrey Epstein abuse survivors will attend President Trump's State of the Union address as guests of Democratic lawmakers.
▶ The New York Times reports Democratic members of Congress invited the victims to draw attention to demands for full Epstein file release.
▶ The Epstein Transparency Act, signed by Trump in January, requires federal agencies to declassify related documents within 180 days.
▶ The Times did not specify which lawmakers issued the invitations or identify which survivors will attend the joint session of Congress.

More than a dozen victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse will attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address as guests of Democratic lawmakers, The New York Times reported.¹ The lawmakers are calling for the full release of documents related to Epstein’s criminal network.¹

The Times did not specify which members of Congress issued the invitations or identify the victims who will attend.¹ The State of the Union will take place before a joint session of Congress.

Lawmakers Demand Full File Release

Democratic members of Congress who invited the victims are demanding the full release of Epstein-related files, according to the Times.¹ The Epstein Transparency Act, which President Trump signed into law in January, requires federal agencies to declassify and release documents related to Epstein within 180 days, with limited exceptions for national security concerns.¹

The law passed the House of Representatives 382-34 in December and cleared the Senate unanimously before Trump signed it. The FBI began its formal review of Epstein-related records following the law’s enactment.

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) claimed the Department of Justice withheld certain documents, including FBI interviews with a Trump accuser, from an initial document release in January.² Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) has accused the DOJ of hiding names in the files release.³

Epstein Case Background

Jeffrey Epstein died in a Manhattan federal jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide by the New York City medical examiner. Epstein was convicted in 2008 in Florida on state charges of soliciting a minor as part of a plea deal that allowed him to avoid federal prosecution.

Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate, was convicted in December 2021 on federal charges of sex trafficking minors and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.

The law includes provisions allowing agencies to redact or withhold information that could compromise national security, ongoing investigations, or the privacy of victims.