by Amanda Ireland in Politics

In 1986, my life transformed dramatically. From cleaning bathrooms, I became a successful model, entering a glamorous world. Decades later, this led me to confront the horrific legacy of Jeffrey Epstein, whom I briefly dated in 1993. While the initial relationship was consensual, some events were not. Last October, I publicly shared a story I'd kept private for years: Epstein brought me to Donald Trump's office, where Trump groped me while Epstein watched. Trump denies this. To support my account, I underwent a polygraph test, friends corroborated my story, and Trump biographer Michael Wolff confirmed Epstein had disclosed the incident. Epstein also told me he had video footage of me disrobed in his home, a deeply disturbing revelation. I did not consent to either event. I speak out not for political reasons, but because the American people and Epstein's victims deserve transparency. This isn't a partisan issue; victims exist across the political spectrum. Despite assurances to the contrary, the release of Epstein files has been slow and seemingly politically motivated. The House oversight committee released over 33,000 files, but 97% were already public. Perpetrators and enablers enjoy secrecy while victims struggle to be heard. The denial of the existence of surveillance tapes is baffling, given testimony and evidence suggesting otherwise. The suffering of survivors like Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide, highlights the need for justice and accountability. We deserve peace of mind and healing, which requires putting politics aside, releasing the Epstein files, and freeing the women from this decades-long nightmare.