Senator Schumer explains why they're gathered at the US Capitol today - to introduce legislation to end "statute of limitation barriers" that he says have “kept survivors of sexual violence from justice for far too long".



Schumer says the bill exists "because people refuse to accept 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 seek accountability when ready and strong enough to do so.

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

He reminds attendees that "time does not erase harm", and that Epstein depended on silence.

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

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

"For too long those sexual predators have been protected," she says, fighting back tears.

Fernández clarifies that Virginia's law will eliminate the statute of limitations for key federal civil claims, and includes a "look back window".