• Democrats and survivors of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have been holding a news conference in Washington to introduce a “Virginia’s Law” bill

• Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says “justice should not expire”, adding the legislation would end “statute of limitation barriers”

• He says the law is named after Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre, whose family are also at the news conference, “because she spoke”

• The bill relates to survivors’ ability to sue their alleged perpetrators after a period of time, our chief North America correspondent explains

• To pass into actual law, it would need a majority-vote from both the US House of Representatives and Senate – plus a signature from US President Donald Trump

• It comes after the US Department of Justice (DOJ) released millions more files related to Epstein on 30 January

Live Reporting

Edited by Jamie Whitehead, with Brandon Drenon reporting from the US Capitol

1. News conference ended with Fernández saying DOJ actions need to be called outpublished at 16:39 GMT

   The news conference ended with Fernández telling the mediathe actions of the Department of Justice need to be called out, and said shewas going to see the Epstein files tomorrow.

   Schumer then added that “we are not going to rest untilall of the files are released, whatever it means we have to pursue”.

   And this brought the news conference to an end.

2. Giuffre’s brother asked about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsorpublished at 16:25 GMT

   Before the news conference ended, Schumer took questions from the press. Before he did so, he thanked Sky and Amanda Roberts for speaking today.

   The first question was directed at Virginia’s brother, who was asked about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

   “I think he [Andrew] should show up in front of ourCongress and answer questions,” Sky responded.

   Roberts reiterated that today should be about the Virginia’s Law bill, but emphasised that Mountbatten-Windsor “needs to show up”.

   Schumer agreed: “Same thing as what Sky says,” he added.

3. ‘A watershed moment for survivors’ rights,’ lawyer sayspublished at 16:18 GMT

   Brandon Drenon
   Reporting from the US Capitol

   Sigrid McCawley, a lawyer who represents Giuffre and othersurvivors, hugged Giuffre’s brother before taking her turn to speak.

   She, too, is teary eyed, adding to the swell of emotions inthe room.

   “This is really a watershed moment for survivors’ rights,” she says, referring to the announcement of Virginia’s Law.

   “The genesis of that law is to get rid of the statuteof limitations so that survivors can work on their timeline,” shecontinues.

   “No longer can abusers weaponise the clock… Survivorscan act when they’re ready to act,” she says.

   The news conference has now finished, but we’ll bring you more updates on what we heard in the next few posts.

4. Giuffre’s sister-in-law says her wish was clear: ‘Reform the statute of limitations’published at 16:10 GMT

   Brandon Drenon
   Reporting from the US Capitol

   Roberts’ wife, Amanda, begins speaking after her husband,continuing to praise Virginia Giuffre’s strength and courage.

   “Her wish was clear, to reform the statute oflimitations,” Amanda Roberts says.

   She also outlines how victims of sexual abuse can need anextended period of time to heal and find courage before they are prepared toseek justice.

   “No more laws that treat survivors as though time canerase harm,” she says, before adding: “Pass Virginia’s Law.”

5. Giuffre’s brother visibly emotional as he begins with single word – ‘change’published at 16:06 GMT

   Brandon Drenon
   Reporting from the US Capitol

   Sky Roberts – Virginia Giuffre’s brother – walks up to thepodium in tears.

   “I am the crier in my family,” he tells the assembled media.“I’m just going to throw that out there.”

   He pauses to find the words and regain composure beforespeaking again, his voice crackling.

   “I want to begin with a single word. A word that meanteverything to my sister. A word we will not stop fighting for until realjustice is served, and that word is change,” he says.

6. Fernández accuses President Trump of using DOJ to prevent justicepublished at 16:03 GMT

   Fernández accuses President Trump and Attorney General PamBondi of using the Department of Justice (DOJ) “to prevent justice”.

   She adds they are using the DOJ to “protect yourslef andthat predatory circle of abusers,” she continues.

7. ‘Time should never be a weapon’, Fernández sayspublished at 15:59 GMT

   Brandon Drenon
   Reporting from the US Capitol

   Representative Teresa Leger Fernández, who is introducingthe bill with Schumer, is now speaking.

   She turns to the survivors, who stand behind her visiblydistraught, and says that along this journey she has shed tears with them.

   “For too long those sexual predators have beenprotected,” she says, fighting back tears.

   Fernández clarifies that Virginia’s law will eliminate thestatute of limitations for key federal civil claims, and includes a “lookback window”.

8. ‘The law carries Virginia Giuffre’s name because she spoke’published at 15:53 GMT

   Schumer says the bill exists “because people refuse toaccept silence as the end of the story. It’s that simple.”

   He says Epstein’s victims “for years” were”ignored and “the system ran out the clock”.

   Schumer says the new law will allow survivors to seekaccountability when ready and strong enough to do so.

   Sometimes it takes years to recuperate, he continues, sayingthere shouldn’t be a time limit on pursuing one’s case.

   He reminds attendees that “time does not eraseharm”, and that Epstein depended on silence.

   The law carries Virginia Giuffre’s name “because shespoke,” says Schumer.

9. Virginia’s Law to ‘end statute of limitation barriers’published at 15:49 GMT

   Senator Schumer explains why they’re gathered at the US Capitol today – tointroduce legislation to end “statute of limitation barriers” that hesays have “kept survivors of sexual violence from justice for far toolong”.

   He adds this law is being introduced to “create new legalavenues to pursue justice.”

10. ‘Justice should not expire,’ says Schumerpublished at 15:45 GMT

    Brandon Drenon
    Reporting from the US Capitol

    

    Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has begun addressing thoseassembled here.

    He starts by acknowledging the victims and their relatives.

    As he introduces Virginia’s Law to the public, he says:”Justice should not expire.”

    “Healing does not run on a government clock,” hesays.

11. Epstein survivors and Democrats introducing Virginia’s Law – watch livepublished at 15:43 GMT

    Survivors of late sex offenderJeffrey Epstein and Democratic lawmakers are putting forward “Virginia’sLaw” at the US Capitol building today.

    Watch their news conference live at the top of the page and follow along here for news updates and analysis.

12. Survivors photographed by press before news conference beginspublished at 15:34 GMT

    Brandon Drenon
    Reporting from the US Capitol

    

    Some of the victims and their relatives have just enteredthe room.

    They huddled in a corner before a flock of press cameras,hugging and smiling before tears began to fall.

    Jess Michaels’ shirt reads: “Courage is courageous.”

    There is lots of deep exhaling among them in the finalmoments before we begin.

13. Inside the room where Virginia’s Law will be introducedpublished at 15:27 GMT

    Brandon Drenon
    Reporting from the US Capitol

    

    Inside the Lyndon Baines Johnson Room in the north-eastcorner of the US Capitol, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is expected toenter shortly, flanked by victims of Epstein’s abuse.

    The flashy announcement behind the introduction of newlegislation is likely meant to capitalise on public interest as newEpstein-related revelations come to light on almost daily basis.

    The US Department of Justice released millions of documentsrelated to the late sex trafficker in January, exposing a vast web ofconnections between Epstein and many of the world’s most rich and powerfulfigures.

    The release did not come without hiccups and criticism,including releasing the names of victims that should have been redacted, andthe redaction of names that critics say should be exposed.

14. Watch: ‘We wish we could move on, but we can’t,’ Epstein survivor sayspublished at 15:17 GMT

    One of the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, Ashley Rubright,says she disagrees with President Trump that the country should now move onfrom the sex-trafficking scandal.

    Earlier this month, Trump said he thought it was “really time for the country to get on to something else”.

    Rubright tells the BBC she has been “re-traumatiseddaily” over the last few months of revelations.

    Deputy US Attorney General Todd Blanche has said thegovernment’s review of the Epstein files – which was mandated by a law passedby Congress in November – is over, and there are no grounds for newprosecutions.

    You can watch Rubright’s interview below.

15. Epstein survivors are calling for full release of filespublished at 15:05 GMT

    Survivors of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein appeared inan advert on Super Bowl Sunday (8 February), calling for the release of more files.

    In a 40-second video from the World Without Exploitationgroup, they held up photographs of their younger selves, saying “we alldeserve the truth”.

    For context: The US Department of Justice (DOJ) wasrequired by law to make all the files public in December last year. But onlysome have been released – many with redactions. It says files not publishedwere either unrelated, duplicates, or had been withheld under deliberativeprocess or attorney-client privilege, or because they depicted violence.

    The advert begins with a text slate on screen that reads:”On November 19, 2025, the Epstein Files Transparency Act was signed intolaw.”

    “3 MILLION FILES Still Have Not Been Released,” itcontinues.

    The advert concludes with a call for people to “standwith us” and “Tell Attorney General Pam Bondi IT’S TIME FOR THETRUTH”.

    You can read more here.

    Image source, World Without Exploitation

16. Schumer to introduce Virginia’s Law to end statute of limitations barrierspublished at 15:03 GMT

    Brandon Drenon
    Reporting from the US Capitol

    In just under 30 minutes, lawmakers will kick off a newsconference introducing a new piece of legislation called Virginia’s Law.

    The legislation aims to remove the length of time victims of sexual abuse have to take against those they are accusing.

    It is uncertain how long it will take to pass into actuallaw, a process which includes a majority-vote from both the US House ofRepresentatives and Senate – plus a signature from US President Donald Trump.

    Today’s announcement inside the US Capitol is being made bySenate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández.

    In a press release, the pair say they will stand “shoulderto shoulder” with victims of the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Thisincludes the family of Virginia Giuffre, who the law appears to be named after.

    Giuffre was one of the most well-known survivors ofEpstein’s sexual abuse.

    She died by suicide in 2025.