In the News

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) today joined Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, advocates, and the family of Virginia Roberts Giuffre to introduce “Virginia’s Law,” landmark legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations to allow adult victims of sexual abuse and trafficking to file civil claims against their abusers.

Named in honor of survivor and advocate Virginia Roberts Giuffre, the bill ensures that justice is not denied simply because time has passed.

“Time should never be a weapon in an abuser’s arsenal,” said Leger Fernandez, Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus. “For too long, sexual predators have hidden behind their wealth, their power, and the clock — counting on survivors to stay silent and statutes of limitations to protect them. Virginia’s Law makes clear: if you committed these crimes, you don’t get to run out the clock. Justice should not depend on a calendar. It should not depend on geography. And it should never depend on how powerful your abuser is.”

“Jeffrey Epstein depended on silence and fear, on a system that protected power instead of protecting people. Today we are saying no more. This bill carries Virginia Giuffre's name because she spoke when so many were told not to,” said Leader Schumer. “No survivor should ever be told again that the law failed them, and that time mattered more than truth. The survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have waited long enough. Virginia waited long enough. The time for justice is now, and Congress must act.”

“Grief without action is another kind of silence. And Virginia did not survive what she survived just to be silenced again,” said Giuffre's brother, Sky Roberts Jr.

“Virginia’s Law does more than honor her legacy – it protects the future of every survivor,” said Amanda Roberts, Virginia’s sister-in-law. “It says, legislatively and legally: we see you, we believe you, and what happened to you matters.”

Virginia’s Law:

• Eliminates the statute of limitations under the existing cause of action in 18 USC 1595 to allow survivors of sex trafficking and forced labor to sue their abusers for violations of sections 1589, 1590, and 1591 without a time limitation. 
• Creates a new cause of action for survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking to sue their abusers for violations of sections 2241, 2242, 2243, 2421, 2422, and 2423 without a time limitation.
• Includes a one-year lookback window to allow survivors of sex trafficking and sexual abuse crimes that occurred prior to the enactment of Virginia’s Law one year to bring a civil action.

In 2022, Congress enacted legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations for minors who were victims of sex trafficking and sexual abuse. However, under current law, in most instances survivors must file a civil claim against their abuser within 10 years of when the abuse occurred or within 10 years of when they turned 18. Further, for some crimes there is not even a remedy for the adult survivor to file a civil claim. 

Current federal law fails to account for the trauma, coercion, fear, and manipulation survivors endure. Research shows that 94% of women who are raped experience PTSD symptoms in the weeks following the assault, and many survivors take years — sometimes decades — to feel safe enough to come forward.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s family — including Sky and Amanda Roberts — joined Congresswoman Leger Fernández, Leader Schumer, and advocates at today’s press conference, alongside representatives from World Without Exploitation and an attorney representing survivors.

Virginia’s Law sends a clear message: sexual predators and their enablers cannot run out the clock, hide behind jurisdictional loopholes, or rely on their power to evade accountability.

The text of the legislation can be viewed here. 

Today’s press conference can be viewed here. 

Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández has long been a fierce advocate for the Epstein survivors. She met with survivors who courageously shared their painful stories, held a vigil on Capitol Hill honoring survivors of Epstein's abuse, and spent countless hours fighting against the Trump administrations' and Congressional Republicans’ distraction, deception, and coverup. 

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