Democracy Now! Audio

Democracy Now! 2025-10-22 Wednesday

Oct 22, 2025
Amy Wallace, journalist and author of Virginia Giuffre's memoir, delves into Virginia's traumatic journey related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. She shares insights on grooming tactics, the legal risks of naming abusers, and Virginia's choices in her storytelling. Meanwhile, Daniel Garcia-Pena, Colombia's former ambassador to the U.S., discusses U.S. military interventions in the Caribbean and the diplomatic fallout with Colombia. He addresses tensions resulting from U.S. actions and the impact on regional relations.
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ANECDOTE

Survivor Describes Feeling Chained

  • Virginia Giuffre described being abused by powerful people who felt like chains in her life.
  • She said she didn't know what could happen to her while trafficked by Epstein and associates.
INSIGHT

Systemic Protection Fuels Public Outrage

  • Amy Wallace says the book exposes how powerful people harm the less powerful with impunity.
  • Public demand to release Epstein files stems from fatigue with systemic protection of abusers.
ANECDOTE

Recruitment From A Spa Job

  • Virginia was 16 when she took a spa job at Mar-a-Lago and was recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell.
  • Within hours she was taken to Epstein's house and sexually abused, marking her entry into the trafficking network.
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