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Transcript

Epstein Victim: He Said He Had Me on Video — Where’s the Transparency?

Former model Stacey Williams speaks out about being assaulted by Donald Trump in his office and Epstein’s disturbing role in enabling abuse. Epstein told Williams that he filmed her, and she's demanding transparency from the DOJ — what exactly is in the Epstein files?

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Discussion about this video

User's avatar
Chana's avatar

Wow. She's amazing. Great interview! Thanks, Tim.

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Allison's avatar

Thank you, Stacey! 💜— also y’all have excellent instant friend chemistry! 👯

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Beth Cogswell's avatar

Thanks for asking where JE’s money came from, Tim. I’ve been looking for that answer.

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Maribeth's avatar

We need to hear more from the victims. I understand why they may not want to come forward.

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Marina Pratt's avatar

That’s a rather damning indictment of the suits in that industry, isn’t it? That they treated her with such disrespect and condescension that Epstein seemed human by comparison 🤦🏻‍♀️.

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sally c's avatar

Amazing and courageous interview! Thank you!

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Ndieterle's avatar

You should submit a FOIA request to the DOJ to get any information about you on the list

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Tai's avatar

Hi Tim, this video by Patrick Boyle, a UK banker and visiting professor at King's College appears very informative on the history of Epstein's finances and association with rich people: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbJSgan4mfQ

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Linda P.'s avatar

Excellent interview. Thank you, Stacey, for speaking up. Every time the truth is told, you and others create a space for more truth. And we need a lot more truth!

Thanks, Tim for your obvious concern and respect. And your excellent questions.

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Mary Schweitzer's avatar

Thank you for your courage. THIS is what we should be talking about and asking why both Trump and the media just ask about the three players (Epstein, Trump, and Maxwell).

I remember for a while there was a lot of talk about how young - and emaciated - models were getting. But they weren’t talking about the sexual abuse - and my bet is tho Epstein may have been the worst, he was not the only one, nor was his underage brothel.

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Monica in SoCal's avatar

Stacey, from one old spinster to another, I wish you the absolute best.

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Monica in SoCal's avatar

The word "victim" has taken a beating in recent years—e.g. "victim mentality." Avoiding the word and using something else like "survivor" (however worth celebrating survival is), obfuscates the real harm done and accountability needed. There is no shame—none!—in being a victim of sexual assault. It was good to hear the word in this conversation.

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William Janis's avatar

Epstein and Trump are both perverts.

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Grant  Williams's avatar

In 2015 Trump tried to force himself on Katy Tur at NBC outside the studio before the access Hollywood tape came out . All of this tracks .

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Maureen Whittemore's avatar

AMAZING INTERVIEW, Tim!! Thank you for seeing the importance of talking with Stacey Williams...I hope other victims of these pedophiles come forward because they saw this interview. Thank you again...both of you were great!

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Ben - MD, VA, NE Florida.'s avatar

No! Not a trafficker. Maxwell functioned as a groomer. That's the descriptive word that will stick in the heads or the brains, if they exist, of the MAGAs.

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Gene Sugg's avatar

Thank you for giving a voice to the victims. Great interview.

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Joshua Gershick's avatar

The answers are there: Listen to these women.

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Shantha Smith's avatar

Amazing interview. Thanks so much for this. My heart bleeds for all the people walking around with this pain and worse every day of their lives. Where is the justice?

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Pam Dodd's avatar

Very welcome interview. Thanks, Tim, for airing it. And Stacey for sharing her disturbing story. More is coming out daily about Epstein and Trump's relationship. I'm hoping other brave victims will feel safe to share what happened to them in the horrible Epstein enterprise. Perhaps some of them will implicate Trump and other famous men. I remember following Watergate as it unfolded. This has a similar ring, only more sordid.

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Donna Matchette's avatar

This interview with Stacey Williams is incredible on so many levels. Yes, it exposes more of the creepy inside story, but I can only imagine what Stacey went through, and for being stalwart and brave in bringing this story out. She had to have been SO VERY young at the time! She states that she gave up the modeling (after an 8 year run as the Sports Illustrated swimsuit model), films, etc at 26. Do the math-- she was exposed to this toxic environment at a very young age. I feel for her, as she tells of being sexually assaulted at the arranged meeting with DT. She should have Justice, as well as the other victims of sexpoitation at the hands of powerful, wealthy men. Great piece of interviewing, Tim.

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AK's avatar

Her comment about how many young women were in "the back rooms" with wealthy and powerful men reminds me of the young woman on a Russian oligarch's yacht and overhear (recorded?) their conversation, which implicated tRump. She got disappeared, didn't she? Anastasia Vashukevich - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/17/model-who-claimed-to-have-proof-of-russian-meddling-in-us-election-arrested.

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DJ's avatar
Jul 26Edited

I just looked up Stacey's bio and we were born three months apart. Same planet, different worlds.

Edit: I just remembered that around same time Stacey was going through this, I worked for a guy who I now realize was a wannabe Trump. He and I met with a woman client at lunch to discuss helping her get a loan for her business. He got drunk and tried to get handsy with her under the table. I was mortified, but as a young guy trying to scratch out a living I didn't know what to say. She gracefully told him to knock it off. I assume she must have had to deal with that crap a lot of over the years.

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Gigi's avatar

Bondi said, a few months ago, that there were videos. On camera.

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Tim Matchette's avatar

Tim, thanks for this. Stacy, thanks to you as well for your courage and strength. She hit the proverbial nail on the head by stating why isn't the clown Blanche interviewing the victims? Pretty obvious that he is creating a smokescreen to protect the felon. Hopefully, more victims will have the courage, like Stacy, to speak out and nail the felon and his fellow predators.

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Gregg Barak's avatar

They may be critiqued for their behavior but should , unlike Jan 6 — which the are blameworthy for not moving immediately after taking office, it was not for them to intervene after a case had been resolved or whatever.

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Cathie Fox's avatar

Excellent!

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Gail Willmore's avatar

Thank you Stacey for continuing to talk about this when you don’t have to. As someone who works with victims of sexual assault and has experienced it myself it takes courage and it does make a big difference in helping transform the landscape of what we normalize and how we address this issue. We want to continue to give the shame back to the perpetrators and that happens every time a victim uses their voice.

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LMCT's avatar

It’s despicable that people are now saying Ghislaine was a victim! The true victims have already identified her as an abuser herself. When are we going to start listening and believing the actual victims that were an irreparably harmed. Throughout history, women have not been believed when they claim sexual assault. There’s not many women that would make that shit up.

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A Sharp's avatar

Great interview Tim. Thank you for prioritizing the perspective of a survivor.

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Michelle M.'s avatar

Great interview! I echo the gratitude of other commenters that you are highlighting and giving space for voices like Ms. Williams to be heard. I hope for more and more and more and more witnesses to speak up, if they are able. 💙

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Scott Denny's avatar

Tim - THANK YOU!! I am glad you are giving voice to the victims. This was an extraordinary interview. Stacey seems like a remarkable human being - funny, bright, engaging, and thoughtful, and best of all - tenacious. She clearly has been through so much, yet shows an amazing strength and spirit that few possess. I hope this encourages more people to come forward and share their stories. THIS is where the focus needs to be now. We have spent three weeks coddling GM and JE, and I fear Groper-in-Chief's ardent followers are going to start feeling the sympathy for GM. They need to hear from Stacey and Maria. Oh, and by the way, I saw a news clip on a local San Diego channel that Andry is HOME!!

https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/gay-makeup-artist-tearfully-reunited-with-family-after-release-from-notorious-el-salvador-prison

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Catherine Carroll's avatar

Brillant interview Tim. Thank you, Stacy Willams, for your generosity to speak with Tim.

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jane's avatar

This entire outrageous conspiracy focuses on the gotcha list. The victims - the children who were abused - are ignored by the public's salacious need for exposing the predators. I want to see justice for the girls and women abused. And, I want those pedophiles to go down - libs or not. Thanks for keeping the light on the victims, Tim.

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Mary M Freeman's avatar

Here's a link from Katie Johnson v. Donald J Trump and Jeffrey E Epstein, first filed in US district court in California in 2016. The victim was 13 years old at the time of the assaults. She was assaulted and raped by both Trump and Epstein. There were multiple assaults. There was also a witness prepared to testify.

This is repulsive and stomach churning stuff. I could barely get through the first discovery-complaint document (the first pdf in the filing.) This filing is publicly available and was shared with me on a social media platform. Google AI reports the following about the history of this case:

April 2016 (California): The first lawsuit was filed in California by an anonymous woman using the pseudonym "Katie Johnson". This case was dismissed in May of that same year for failing to meet legal requirements, as the judge ruled that the complaint didn't raise valid claims under federal law and the cited civil statute only applies to actions based on "race-based or class-based animus".

June 2016 (New York): A second version of the lawsuit was filed in New York by the same woman, now using the pseudonym "Jane Doe".

September 2016 (New York): This suit was withdrawn after the plaintiff failed to serve the complaint on Trump or Epstein.

September 30, 2016 (New York): Another complaint was filed in Manhattan Federal Court by the woman, represented by new lawyers.

November 4, 2016: This lawsuit was dropped. This occurred shortly before the 2016 presidential election and after "Johnson" canceled a planned press conference, citing threats to her safety. Trump's legal team at the time denied the allegations and dismissed the lawsuit as a "hoax" and politically motivated.

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4154484/katie-johnson-v-donald-j-trump/

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Ann's avatar

Wow-never heard of this case. The behavior of Trump/Epstein certainly tracks with other victims’ experiences around that time. Would love to see the case come to light.

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Mary M Freeman's avatar

I never knew about this one. A friend shared with me on a social media platform. The more people know about it, the better--to prosecute the remaining living perpetrators in order to bring some justice to the victims.

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Kim Hamblin's avatar

How on earth did this go through the legal system without public knowledge, or acknowledgement by someone in the system, and then be dismissed. If a victim files a complaint on such egregious behavior, someone (both someones) should be in prison. What rabbit did the defending attorneys pull out of their hat to let these criminals walk? Could this really have happened?

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Mary M Freeman's avatar

That is the question.

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Douglas Paul Truhlar's avatar

Legal what? Cesspool full of powerful men that’s how.

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Richard Courtney's avatar

Boy I hope she re-files. But will understand if she doesn't.

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Richard Courtney's avatar

Thank you hero! EVERYONE SHOULD READ.

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Dave Yell's avatar

The skeptic in me smells a pardon coming Maxwell's well from Trumpster. Maxwell is serving twenty years. You don't need the knowledge of quantum mechanics to figure this out.

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Ally CS's avatar

Very good point..."the government is interviewing the trafficker, not the victims".

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Mary Hale's avatar

I admire Stacey for speaking out. Such bravery. It's appalling how these men and woman take advantage of young girls and in some cases boys, who are just trying to fullfil their dreams that turn into nightmares. Thank you Tim for your interview with Stacey.

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Diane Battista's avatar

The whole ironic thing is that Kamala Harris was a prosecutor of sexual abuse crimes and understands about victims and that she said she understood and knew the personality of Trump very well

She defended victims

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Susan Trosper's avatar

I hope Kamala Harris was planning to come after him if she was elected. All of the ridiculous things he says about her are typical of the way he responds to feeling threatened.

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Shantha Smith's avatar

If you watch the latest episode of Shrinking Trump on youtube, the psychologists talk about surviving sexual abuse, especially in childhood and what it does to people's brains. When trauma is so horrific that it can't be processed by a child's mind, it is walled off instead. It's takes great emotional courage to open those walls and integrate the traumatic memories into the conscious mind. Most people continue to look away instead even into adulthood when the walling off of memories is no longer protective but becomes self-destructive. They posit that much of the animosity towards Harris is from unprocessed trauma and blaming the mother figure who didn't protect them instead of the father figure who hurt them. When unprocessed trauma exists, people repeat the pattern of abuse throughout their lives choosing abusers as partners who do exactly what was done to them in childhood out of a subconscious wish for the outcome to change. My take: with red and blue migration, we have sorted ourselves into regions of people who are working on their mental health and people who refuse to process their trauma.

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Diane Battista's avatar

Trauma victims meet with much silence as if they shouldn’t be speaking up. Just re-traumatizes them.

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Shantha Smith's avatar

I'm not saying all Trump supporters were sexually abused; I am saying that many more people are than most of us think and that many more still have unresolved trauma of some kind from their parenting in childhood.

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Diane Battista's avatar

There’s been the greatest epidemic of narcissism happening since the 70s

Affecting people emotionally in a very negative way.

Everything is focused on transactional sanitizing of emotions

All empathy or compassion

Sanitize the emotions of regret or remorse, which you need to have a conscience in order to self reflect and engage in introspection to discern right from wrong with good values in morality .

All of this, it’s been intentional to sanitize society of all of this

Healthy, emotional growth and development is not what has been happening .

These poor children were not protected and it is wrong . To ignore the victims and worry about getting off the perpetrators is outrageous..

What is right has become wrong

What is wrong has become right

Everything is upside down and twisted inside out

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Diane Battista's avatar

No, I understand

It’s like a cult people that get sucked into malignant narcissistic, psychopathic mind and environment. End up being emotionally compromised themselves.

The point above about child, sexual abuse, victims being retraumatized the Catholic Church coverup was a classic example . Instead of people within the church, reaching out to them with empathy, they were shunned as the church pushed. All they wanted was money and tried to protect the church itself and hide these pedophiles.

The victims turned into the bad guys

The greatest worldwide cover-up of child sexual abuse . When Sinéad O’Connor ripped up the picture of the pope on Saturday Night Live in the 70s or 80s, she was villainized

And she was telling the truth

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severn's avatar

I remember reading there were vid records years ago. And yet indeed where are they? My feeling has always been info tends to be leaky. If they really existed someone somewhere has them, in whole or in part ...

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Diane Battista's avatar

Trump has been like this for a long time all of his adult life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkItEz1cuqc

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Richard Courtney's avatar

I had forgotten about this, thanks for reminding us. Keep up the fight!

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David Bonn's avatar

Please keep asking questions about where and how Epstein got his fortune. The official explanations simply do not add up.

If you look at his job and business history on his Wikipedia page it is very hard to see how he got to 600 million. But if you look at who he was running around with it smells a lot like fraud, tax evasion, and money laundering.

Also the scale of the money transfers Wyden talked about don't really match up with either straight-up human trafficking or someone with 600 million dollars. Unless some more stuff was going on.

It was pretty well-known that at least one girl (she was 17) was recruited from Trump's property and trafficked. It is also well-known that Epstein recruited from several modeling agencies. During the time period they ran together Trump owned Trump Model Management. So I'm wondering if Trump's relationship with Epstein wasn't so much as a "client" as a supplier.

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Richard Courtney's avatar

Uncovering the truth of this and the botched prosecution is job one.

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tecolote42's avatar

God help us all

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Richard Courtney's avatar

How about we help ourselves while he thinks about it.

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tecolote42's avatar

True, that would be the 'God helps those who help themselves' department

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Patricia Pustell's avatar

Tim you do a wonderful job in presenting the truth. Once again I’m impressed with your sincerity to be kind with your guest and still ask serious questions to get real answers. This is a very sensitive subject and you stayed in the area of professional journalism that informs and educates the public . A great interview that I can comfortably share and have manful conversations about a terrible topic. Thank you

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Kathy's avatar

She is a great spokesperson for all the victims.

Not to change the subject, but I watched Surviving Ohio State regarding the wrestlers who were abused by the team doctor and Jim Jordan knew it was going on and did nothing about it. I'd like to see more of that story in the news. Those men are victims too.

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Halsey Taylor's avatar

AND THANK YOU Stacey! You are a star in great company. I hope you get the answers and justice richly deserved.

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Halsey Taylor's avatar

THANK YOU TIM! This was very meaningful after listening to the insanity ignoring or trivializing these victims. I have been kinda ranting about it; I apologize. I was in the truly wild world Stacy described and also got out early, but it was part of the trauma I’ve struggled with for near 40 years since. Many thanks for shifting the lens on the conversation. It’s brought great relief, just feels good to be seen. And there are lots of dots to connect, Christine Blasey Ford, Anita Hill, E. Jean, Stephanie Cliffords —so many women who have tried to break through the calcified bullsh** on this. You are so appreciated!

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Diane Battista's avatar

JoAnn

I am so sorry to hear that you once were in that world but so glad to hear you got out . Do not ever feel that you are ranting. You are among friends on sub stack who have empathy for victims and the trauma they go through. The good thing is that today there are more good men like Tim out there defending the victims and they do not stand alone.

As far as Anita Hill goes, she was always telling the truth . Thomas should’ve never been confirmed.

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Douglas Paul Truhlar's avatar

There is a real live PIG in a real high position, I watched the congressional hearing. Smart and pretty Hill has class Thomas belongs on this interview as a purp.

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opsan's avatar

Unfortunately I feel like to fix this in with Maxwell. To the point: why interview the trafficker when you should be interviewing the victims? Of course the answer is: we know why. There will be testimony then there will be a pause, and there will be a pardon.

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Susan's avatar

Was it the Bulwark or some other news org. that mentioned she could be tried in state courts (NM, NY) FL was also mentioned but .....Unless she flees the country, which she most likely will do, she will probably face charges from states.

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Keith Wresch's avatar

Of course she would leave. She still has her French citizenship and France will not extradite. That’s why Roman Polanski fled to France and has been living there ever since.

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Robert J Danolfo's avatar

Tim, I bet that was a tough interview but fortunately Stacey seems to be upbeat and well adjusted after such a whirlwind start to her young life. She mentioned she knows many friends in similar circumstances and some have come out to tell their stories. I'm wondering why, especially now, that all the victims aren't uniting to seek justice? Reporting suggests hundreds of victims. En Mass this would present a powerful indictment of the heinous crimes of the perpetrators. It also might emotionally help those that have been agonizing through this in the shadows. If only there was some person or entity of stature that could help initiate this endeavor, we could actually force out the truth and find long overdue justice.

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Halsey Taylor's avatar

I hear you, but look at the price that women “of stature”, like Christine Blasey Ford, Mira Sorvino (with Weinstein), Anita Hill (Clarence Thomas) have paid. Death threats. Having to move their families. Many had their career trajectories blown up, so that “stature” wasn’t an option. Unfortunately, the world hasn’t changed near enough in the last 50 years for courage to be a safe option.

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Robert J Danolfo's avatar

I understand your viewpoint but won't there be a much higher degree of safety if the victims unite? Don't you think most Americans would rally around this extraordinarily just cause?

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Halsey Taylor's avatar

I sense would like to convey hope and information you believe the victims of power abuse, in this case and others, don’t have. This is exactly why bringing expert sexual trauma scholars/practitioners (Judith Herman,Bessel van der Kolk, etc) and legal experts (Ronnie , in addition to victim voices

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Halsey Taylor's avatar

(Sorry hit send prematurely, I was referring to E. Jean Carrol’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, or Brad Edwards who represented over 50 of Epstein’s victims). It would bring great context to the conversation if a dear podcaster like Tim brought in some of these folks. They could present the complex response to your questions far better than I’m able to do.

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Richard Courtney's avatar

We've failed mightily at providing victims a secure safe space to feel comfortable telling their stories. We have got to break the cycle of the power afforded to entitled monsters and their supporters in government.

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Monica's avatar

I don't disagree with you on the high price and career costs, but did want to note that both Anita Hill and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford still have good careers and are doing respected work. I affirm what you are saying on the unacceptably high cost but still think it's important not to describe these women as if their courage in coming forward ruined their lives or their future accomplishments.

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Richard Courtney's avatar

The traumatic impacts of abuse is different for everyone. We should probably focus on the criminality of the abuse and justice for the victims, and not how well the survivors can or not deal with the consequences. I DON'T think that is what you're doing here.

But we need to be careful not stray into the "no harm, no foul" territory some may use.

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Monica's avatar

Yes, certainly agree with this. The harm is significant, and there should be no pressure on survivors for how they respond, how and whether they heal, or whether or not they choose to be more public or private about their ordeals. One thing I've also experienced, though, is that often people with a tone of wanting to help will tell victims it will be too hard for them to come forward and ask for accountabiliy even when they've already personally weighed the risks. I experienced that in a (much less serious than this) harassment situation where people who claimed to get it and to be allies were trying to warn me of the high cost of outing/confronting the guy's behavior. And when someone has weighed the cost and is choosing to be courageous to protect other people, it's another layer of hurt when well-meaning people are like, "Are you sure you want to do this?" Like they think they're helping when really they're actively reinforcing the culture of silence and lack of accountability - which they could instead play a role in breaking. There is also a real cost to victims who want to speak out but are discouraged into silence by the very people who they should be trusting to support them.

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Halsey Taylor's avatar

I most certainly did not say that and I’m sorry that’s how you read it. Dr Ford is successful in the private professional sector. Mira Sorvino has been doing great, recent work. She was spot in a satirical send up of a wellness guru, and Dr. Hill is a renown scholar who, among many accomplishments, hosted a fantastic podcast. They, and many others, bring to mind Twain’s words, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear--not absence of fear.”

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Monica's avatar

Yes, thanks for this - it appears I misunderstood this sentence - "Many had their career trajectories blown up, so that “stature” wasn’t an option." Rereading it now, I see now that you were referring to others without the resources or support to risk their careers in this way, not specifically to these 3 whose careers are still thriving. Love the Twain quote.

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Halsey Taylor's avatar

Thanks for helping me work through and wrangle my thoughts!

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Amanda's avatar

They were trying to “steal” women or girls from each other like they were a commodity or property. And now we are treating them like they’re irrelevant

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Ernie Bailey's avatar

Such a great interview. She is so articulate and so believable.

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OJVV's avatar

Thanks to Stacey for reaching out to Tim and having this conversation. All I can say/think is, "wtf?" Living in the upside down for sure.

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Doris's avatar

This is both heartbreaking and infuriating. This is also why every member of the GOp

Who voted to confirm Pam Bondi and Kash Patel should lose their jobs. They have utterly failed in upholding their oath of office.

When the victims of a crime are victimized again at the hands of the “justice” system, it’s time to change the leadership.

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Diane Battista's avatar

They all should be run out of town

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Jennifer Phillips's avatar

To Stacey - more than a few of us out here care about you, feel for what you and other women suffered (and still suffer), and want to see the impregnable privilege of the wealthy people who exploit poor and vulnerable ones broken open to public awareness and to negative consequences. Thanks for being brave and forthright. Thanks, Tim for the interview.

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Debra Powell's avatar

Alan Dershowitz claims the videos are for security purposes because he was one of the perpetrators… I don’t believe the apology one of the victims spewed, I believe her original story and Dershowitz shut her up with a payoff and a NDA…. IMV the reason he was so rich is because he kept bribing rich men because he had videos… Curious to see if my theory is correct… RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!

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Douglas Paul Truhlar's avatar

Douchbagowitz is a mouthy self centered purp, I think he would look great in orange or stripes but behind bars.

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Diane Battista's avatar

Sure looks that way about him, doesn’t it?

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Cindy  Battie's avatar

Courageous!

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Gregg Barak's avatar

Here's what I think is in those Epstein files about Donald Chump as I wrote in my Raw Story opinion piece on Wednesday, Trump's rage threatens to unearth his biggest skeletons:

https://www.rawstory.com/raw-investigates/trump-rage-epstein/.

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Brad W's avatar

Donny is working hard on his cover-up.

That makes me think the Epstein information is very damaging to him.

That makes me think Harris might have won if the files had come out before 2024.

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Gregg Barak's avatar

Brad,

You have it correct.

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Brad W's avatar

Okay, if that is correct then the most important story is not Trump's cover-up.

Wouldn't the most important story be Garland, and by extension Biden, not releasing as much of the Epstein information as possible before the 2024 election?

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Gregg Barak's avatar

Obviously not because Garland and Biden were "afraid" to look like they were weaponizing justice why else did they wait so long before indicting him for January 6th? You should read my Indicting the 45h President.

https://www.amazon.com/Indicting-45th-President-Crimes-Powerful/dp/1032454776/.

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Brad W's avatar

Maybe I'm missing something.

Don't Garland and Biden deserve to be blamed for being afraid? After 1/6 shouldn't they have known that playing nice was no longer an option?

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Gregg Barak's avatar

I thought I noted before I don’t see it. The case was investigated and prosecuted during Trump and Epstein died in jail w/o releasing an autocracy and Maxwell was convicted before the 2020 election so was not on Garland or Biden but Barr and Trump. On the other hand, they were to blame for dealing Jan 6 and the MAGA for its anti-constitutional ruling given Trump and other presidents criminal immunity.

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Gregg Barak's avatar

I stand corrected but her case has been on appeal and I believe still ongoing, as for Epstein he avoided trial by death in 2019.

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Brad W's avatar

Maxwell's ongoing appeal does not stop the release of files.

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Gregg Barak's avatar

True but I still don’t think that was on Garland and Biden. In the present, it’s Trump et al that are covering up his crimes against the minors laid out in the 2 lawsuits filed in 2016 against Trump and Epstein. That’s what this is all about.

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tecolote42's avatar

Excellent point

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Brandon's avatar

One thing that keeps coming back to me is the fact that Jeffrey Epstein worked at an all girls school and we have never heard of any stories about victims during his time there. What're the odds that there aren't any there and that the school didn't give some sort of payout to cover it up?

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Diane Battista's avatar

Highly likely

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Diane Battista's avatar

Look at how the child sexual abuse scandal was so covered up in the Catholic Church around the world.

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Diane Battista's avatar

Stacey’s comment is perfect

“Our country has been so savaged “

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Diane Battista's avatar

Some of the victims report that she was actually in the room doing things to them also right along with Epstein. She’s a monster just like he was.

It’s wrong with the government is doing. It is only self-serving for one person and they are going to do everything they can to make it look like it was the Democrats.

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Myrna Greenfield's avatar

Sure. Check out above comment laying blame once again on Biden rather than keeping eyes on the perpetrators. Tramp is, as usual, laying the blame elsewhere. Beware: that's the only life-long talent he has.

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Diane Battista's avatar

Todd Blanche going to Florida to interview her after she’s been convicted by a jury of her peers of the most heinous crimes and perjury is so outrageous

Does anybody remember the character that Robert Duvall played in the Godfather trilogies?

“Lawyer/Consigliere”

There is no difference

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Christine's avatar

Thank you to Stacey for continuing to share her story. There are so many brave women who have stood up and spoken out, at considerable risk to their personal safety.

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Sandra Cochrane's avatar

Thank-you to Stacey for speaking and thank-you to The Bulwark for ensuring that the victims remain central to the reporting, analysis and commentary (as you have also done for the ICE kidnapping victims).

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Shantha Smith's avatar

💯

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gerri caldarola's avatar

Thanks for speaking out. Men cannot know what it's like for women: why we freeze, why we don't yell out, why we don't fight... you can ask every woman and they either has had an incident or they know someone who has.

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Shantha Smith's avatar

Fight, flight, freeze, faun are all trauma responses and all evolutionarily protective in the moment. Of course she froze, because it was the safest thing to do. The first two options could have gotten her disappeared or killed. The fourth was not necessary for survival. The lizard brain knows what will keep us safe in the moment and does what it has to do before the prefrontal cortex even gets the information.

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Jackie Smith's avatar

Great interview, she clearly presents the treachery of the DOJ interviewing a perpetrator rather than the victims. We cannot let this be buried.

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Sara Ellen Midkiff Minor's avatar

You are curious about where Epstein got his money: I’m listening to Julie K Brown’s Perversion of Justice and she is going into that now. Chapter 16-Follow the Money.

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Diane Battista's avatar

Thank you for this

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Diane Battista's avatar

It is always follow the money

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MaryMcC's avatar

I'm reading Perversion of Justice now.

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Sara Ellen Midkiff Minor's avatar

So far it’s not a lot but it is a beginning of where it comes from. I’ve found 3 books so far written about E: two by reporters and one by an attorney who represented some of the victims. I’m working through those for more detailed info.

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Karin's avatar

Thank you for having her on.

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Lynn Horsky's avatar

Thank your openness about your experience. Both those sleazy men exhibited conspiratorial deviant behavior --and the beat goes on. Little care is given to victims, girls or boys. Am hoping this scandal will be the crack in the cosmic egg and light will break through...and thanks for your bravery. Tim, you really are a good interviewer.

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Diane Battista's avatar

Really appreciate how you keep up with everything Tim and bring so much important things to light providing a platform.

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Wendy E's avatar

Thank you Tim for the great interview and Stacey for bringing forward her story!

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Christina Ronnberg's avatar

BRAVE WOMEN

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Carrie's avatar

Thank you Stacey Williams and Tim. Believe the women.

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Diane Battista's avatar

Systemic misogyny works to discredit and doubt women speaking up. What amazes me is how the women in the Maga movement work like the men in the Maga movement to discount discredit, and engage in misogyny against victims.

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Carrie's avatar

Yes. But let us remember the distinction between sexism (women are not equal to men) and misogyny (dislike or hatred of women). Most of what has occurred throughout history is sexism. The internet (and maga) has amplified a lot of that into misogyny.

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Douglas Paul Truhlar's avatar

Diane you are so correct! Misogyny went on far after slavery was beat up (I won’t say legally unacceptable), women had to fight to own land or a bank account also their own bodies. Obviously it’s still going on, no respect.

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Diane Battista's avatar

Thank you, Douglas

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Ryan's avatar

Something’s off here. I don’t know what it is.

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Monica's avatar

Off as in ... you don't believe her..? Off as in something else you can't figure out...?

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Ryan's avatar

Something else I can’t figure out.

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tecolote42's avatar

Please elucidate

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Wendy E's avatar

I agree Ryan!

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Rebekah Seaton's avatar

Great interview. One fact check- you’ve mentioned a couple times that Maria Farmer was underage when she was in Epstein’s office with Trump but in recent interviews she says she was 25 at the time.

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Tim Miller's avatar

shit must’ve got my timeline off thanks

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Lily who reads The Bulwark's avatar

Tim, I’ve written this elsewhere but it bears repeating:

What was alarming about Maria’s story was not her age, but what happened after Trump and Epstein left the room where Trump was ogling her and Epstein said “she’s not here for you”: She overheard Trump tell Epstein “I thought she was 16.”

So it appears Trump was expecting to meet a 16 year old girl who was there “for him,” and was thrown off by the fact that the woman in the room was…a woman, and not a girl.

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Diane Battista's avatar

Yes, I have heard that too and that is an important piece.

Here in his own words says everything about his thinking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkItEz1cuqc

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Lily who reads The Bulwark's avatar

It was also reported in The NY Times:

“Ms. Farmer said she recalled feeling scared as Mr. Trump stared at her bare legs. Then Mr. Epstein entered the room, and she recalled him saying to Mr. Trump: ‘No, no. She’s not here for you.’

The two men left the room, and Ms. Farmer said she could hear Mr. Trump commenting that he thought Ms. Farmer was 16 years old.”

https://archive.ph/2025.07.22-221909/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/20/us/politics/epstein-employee-trump-investigation.html

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Kathryn Page's avatar

i think it was her sister who was younger at the time. (well, and still is.)

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Heidi Richman's avatar

Stacey’s courageous honesty stands in such stark contrast to the sociopathic females that populate the current regime. Thank you both for this!

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Kathy Austin, Texas's avatar

Thank you for your courage to speak up, Stacey. Sending love. ❤️

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John Kendrick's avatar

Great interview! Well done, Tim!

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Roberta lawson's avatar

Difficult reporting. Thank you Stacey and Tim

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Richard Courtney's avatar

More courage in 20 minutes than the last 10 years of the entire republican party.

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Diane Battista's avatar

Republican party is a disgrace they are compliant and they are complicit and they are culpable

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Richard Courtney's avatar

The monstrous, horrific, and loathsome acts of protecting the perpetrators and attacking the victims would be legacy ruining for anyone, but for this psychopath it's just another day in the life of Donny the Dufus Demon.

We either get justice, or we're doomed as a country.

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Suzanne Clancy's avatar

Thank you for this - exactly what is needed is for these women who can manage it to step forward. Stacey is credible and articulate, and thank you for this straightforward and empathetic interview.

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Spencer Passmore's avatar

Tim, wonder why anyone hasn’t looked for or at his tax returns?

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tecolote42's avatar

Bingo

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Different drummer's avatar

Thank you for highlighting the victims, Tim. It's a disgrace that they seem so often to be forgotten in all this corruption and depravity.

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