Featured Image Credit: CNN
Topics: News, US News, Jeffrey Epstein, Donald Trump, Crime
Kit Roberts
One of Jeffrey Epstein's victims has described the horrific way he'd attempt to control her, such as using her mother's illness.
Danielle Bensky is one of the many women who have come forward to speak about their experience with convicted sex offender Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Since his death, there have been numerous calls for the 'Epstein files' to be released to the public, with several Epstein-related documents having been released over the years, but more recently, several survivors, including Bensky, have come forward to ask Congress to release the files.
The World Without Exploitation organisation also released a video, featuring the victims saying it's 'time to bring the secrets out of the shadows', adding: "Five administrations and we are still in the dark."
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Bensky revealed that she was just 17 years old when she allegedly met Epstein, when she was already in a socially vulnerable position as she was working to support her mother, who had health struggles.
“I was 17 when I met Jeffrey Epstein,” she said. “I was an aspiring ballerina working odd jobs to support my mother, who was battling a brain tumor, and to keep up with my training."
Ms Bensky hoped that with the help of a 'wealthy philanthropist' she could pay for her classes and look after her mom; however, it turned into 'months of abuse'.
"What began as a chance to pay for dance lessons turned into months of abuse. Epstein used my mother’s illness to control me." she continued.
According to Bensky, Epstein would use her mother's illness as leverage against her, as she added: "He promised help and threatened to take it away if I spoke. It took me years to tell the truth, and I tell it now because too many people still believe this story should stay hidden."
Ms Bensky went on to call for the remaining Epstein files to be made public, saying: “Releasing the remaining files does not harm survivors. Silence harms survivors.
"The documents that are still sealed contain information about the people who enabled him and the systems that protected him.
"We deserve the full truth, and the public deserves it too.”
It was announced that on Tuesday, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on whether all Epstein-related files should be made publicly available 'in a searchable and downloadable format' within 30 days, the BBC reports.
President Donald Trump has already addressed the vote and urged Republicans to vote in favor of releasing the files because 'we have nothing to hide'.
National Director of World Without Exploitation, Lauren Hersh, said in a press release that the survivors 'believe this vote offers an opportunity to stand firmly on the side of protecting minors from abuse', adding: “They want the public to see how gaps in the system allowed a predator to operate for years and to understand what must change to prevent that from happening again.
"Republicans and Democrats who support the release of these files can help ensure that future investigations into child exploitation are stronger, more transparent, and more responsive to victims who often go unheard.
"The survivors are asking members of Congress to work across party lines to shine a light on the full truth.”