In her Washington Post op-ed, Sarah Ransome recounts how surviving Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s trafficking operation did not end with their convictions but instead marked the beginning of another battle: being disbelieved, dismissed, and blamed because she was an adult when she was trafficked. Ransome explains that media coverage often centers on underage victims while overlooking the many women who, like her, were legally adults yet manipulated, coerced, and abused over prolonged periods. She describes the pervasive “gaslighting” she faced from society, friends, family, and authorities who questioned her credibility, branded her with derogatory labels, and minimized the horrors she endured simply because she was not a minor at the time. For years, this skepticism compounded her trauma, making recovery even more difficult and isolating her from support.


Ransome also reflects on the catharsis of hearing Ghislaine Maxwell’s shackles at sentencing and finally reading her impact statement in court, which she views as a significant step toward reclaiming her voice and self-worth. She emphasizes that justice remains incomplete while powerful enablers and institutions that allowed Epstein and Maxwell to operate with impunity have not been fully held accountable. Ransome urges broader recognition of all survivors — regardless of age at the time of abuse — and calls for societal change in how adult trafficking victims are understood and supported.


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