Survivors 'will have their day in court': Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz on new Epstein-related bill

Legislation Overview - The Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims Rights Act aims to close a legal loophole that previously kept survivors of sexual abuse, such as those of Jeffrey Epstein, uninformed about pre-trial proceedings or plea agreements [1] - The bill seeks to ensure that victims can exercise their rights under the Crime Victim's Rights Act, regardless of whether a plea deal is in state or federal court [7] - The Crime Victim's Rights Act, a federal law since the mid-2000s, allows federal crime victims to be present in court, know the proposed sentencing in advance, and oppose it [5][6] Case Context - Jeffrey Epstein's case involved around 1,000 survivors of a sex trafficking ring, where he received a lenient plea deal at the state level [3] - The original settlement negotiated by Alex Acosta took the case out of federal court, resulting in the victims being unable to exercise their rights under the Crime Victim's Rights Act [6] - Survivors were not notified about the "sweetheart deal" and did not have the opportunity to voice their opposition in court [6] Political Support and Future Actions - The legislation is a reintroduction and has bipartisan support, including Republican co-sponsors [7][8] - The aim is to ensure that survivors are central and have the opportunity to protest proposed settlements in court [9] - Beyond the legislation, the focus is on ensuring the Crime Victim's Rights Act is followed, giving victims a voice in court and preventing similar deals from being hidden [11][12]