Four survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse testified before the New York State Senate on Monday, demanding that the state allow lawsuits against his estate. Lara Blume McGee, 17 at the time of the abuse, described fear and intimidation as reasons for her two‑decade silence. Alongside McGee, Carine Silva De Deus, Glendys Espinal and Alexandra Golematis spoke publicly for the first time.

The testimony supports a bill championed by Senator Zellnor Myrie that would amend state sex‑trafficking law to permit punitive damages against Epstein’s estate and his collaborators. Current statutes bar such claims once a perpetrator dies. The proposal also creates a one‑year look‑back window, mirroring the 2022 Adult Survivors Act, to revive time‑barred claims.

Estimates place the Epstein estate at roughly $120 million, a pool that is already being eroded by prior settlements. Victims’ lawyers warn that without legislative change the fund could disappear before survivors recover any compensation. Lawmakers in the Assembly have introduced a companion measure to close the “Epstein loophole,” aiming to hold traffickers and buyers accountable.

Beyond the civil arena, the push reflects broader efforts to tighten New York’s prostitution statutes, which currently exempt buyers and facilitators from prosecution. Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter and Senator Liz Krueger argue that closing the exemption will deter future networks and provide survivors with needed resources. The Senate Codes Committee already approved Myrie’s bill, moving it closer to enactment.