00:00Let me talk to you for a moment about the survivors who are in the room.
00:03There are 10 individuals who were exploited and abused by Mr. Epstein.
00:08They are here today.
00:10None of them have had a chance to speak to anyone in the department or FBI,
00:14though they've asked repeatedly.
00:16So can I get your word under oath that within the next 30 days,
00:20you will personally sit down with these 10 victims
00:23and hear their case in terms of what needs to be done by the Department of Justice?
00:27I, Chairman, I appreciate them being here today.
00:31I also have somebody from my office who's spent her entire career working on cases like Mr. Epstein's.
00:38She's in charge of our task force investigating human trafficking.
00:41She's available to talk to them.
00:43She can sit right next to you.
00:45She can sit right next to you when you meet with these survivors.
00:48I have never said I will not meet with survivors.
00:51Will you meet with these 10 survivors?
00:53I'm asking you on the record.
00:54If they have lawyers, as you know, I'm prohibited from meeting directly with them.
00:59I have met with counsel for survivors, as has many people in the Department of Justice, over 30.
01:04But if they are represented by counsel, we will work with their counsel.
01:08If they don't have a lawyer, I will certainly make arrangements to make sure the right people
01:12at the Department of Justice meet with them.
01:14Will you get it done within the next 30 days that each of these survivors...
01:17I will get it done today if that's necessary.
01:19I mean, my point is there's somebody here who can meet with them today, get their information
01:24and arrange to meet with them.
01:25Absolutely.
01:25I think you ought to be in the room.
01:27Pardon me?
01:27I think you ought to be in the room because you ought to hear this.
01:30You have a singular responsibility for these files.
01:34There is a delay in meeting the statutory requirement of disclosure.
01:38You were involved in that.
01:39I think you ought to be part of this.
01:41I am definitely part of it, and I have been from day one.
01:44And it will be done within the next 30 days?
01:46I have...
01:47I can keep on repeating myself, but I said it could get done as soon as today.
01:51It could have gotten done last week.
01:53We remain available to meet with any victim or their representative at any time.
01:58Will you notify the committee when you've done this?
02:02That would be prohibited by law if they're talking about an ongoing investigation.
02:06I'm asking you if you'll notify the committee that you met with the survivors.
02:09It depends on what they said.
02:09I'm not sure I'm allowed to notify you if there's an ongoing investigation.
02:15Well, you're dancing on the head of a pen here.
02:18I'm not dancing on any pen at all.
02:20You have these survivors who have the courage to come before this committee,
02:23have the courage to tell their terrible stories, how they were exploited.
02:27Don't you think it's important that we have a prompt response by our government to these survivors?
02:33Absolutely.
02:34And there will be a prompt response.
02:36My heart breaks for every survivor.
02:39Every victim of Mr. Epstein, absolutely.
02:42And I would love to prosecute anybody that did any harm to these victims.
02:46Will you meet with them within the next 30 days the last time I asked a question?
02:50You can say yes or no.
02:50I can keep on answering it the same way.
02:52I can meet with them.
02:54My staff will meet with them.
02:55We have a staff member here today who specializes.
02:56If you can meet with them, will you meet with them?
02:59I'm not sure what you're looking for me to say.
03:02As I said, if they're represented by counsel, I'm not allowed to meet with them directly.
03:08As you know, I assure you the FBI, who are experts in this space, prosecutors who are experts in this
03:16space,
03:16and me, if necessary, will absolutely meet with them.
03:19I promise you this.
03:21I think it's necessary.
03:21I will stay updated and know everything that's happening with any victim that has information about any other people that
03:29work with Epstein,
03:29that committed any crimes with Epstein, absolutely.
03:31Well, if you're truly committed to extraordinary transparency and you're willing to meet with these victims,
03:38I hope you will do it immediately or we're going to hold you to it.
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