First Epstein Victim With Police Report Speaks Out: Alicia Arden and Gloria Allred Demand Release of Files
“If Epstein had been forced to face the consequences of his criminal behavior at that time, perhaps many other women and children could have been spared.” – Gloria Allred
In a press conference this week, high-profile attorney Gloria Allred stood alongside Alicia Arden the first known victim to file a police report against Jeffrey Epstein, to demand the release of unreleased government files on Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell.
Allred revealed that in 1997, Arden filed a sexual battery complaint with the Santa Monica Police Department after an encounter with Epstein at the Shutters Hotel in Santa Monica, California. Arden alleges Epstein posed as a Victoria’s Secret representative conducting model auditions. When she realized he was using the pretense to touch her inappropriately, she left and went to the police.
Despite her willingness to testify, no charges were filed. Allred said she believes that failure allowed Epstein’s predatory behavior to escalate unchecked, ultimately leading to the large-scale sex trafficking operation that victimized hundreds of women and underage girls over decades.
The Call for Transparency
Allred said many victims believe the truth lies in unreleased records from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Southern District of New York and Florida, as well as the Miami state attorney’s files. She noted that there are an estimated 1,000 or more victims connected to Epstein, yet only a fraction have spoken publicly. These documents could reveal how Epstein and Maxwell evaded serious prosecution for so long and who may have enabled them.
“Victims have become a political football for Congress,” Allred stated. “We’re talking about law, not politics but politics is now very much involved.”
She called on Congress to hold joint House and Senate hearings and to subpoena figures such as former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Alex Acosta, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. She urged lawmakers to invite victims to testify voluntarily, supporting those who wish to remain anonymous.
Alicia Arden’s Statement
When asked if the Epstein files should be released, Arden was direct: “Yes, the files should be released. I’m tired of the government saying that they want to release them, so please just do it.”
She firmly opposed any suggestion of a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell. “She was convicted of sex trafficking of children. This is a terrible crime.”
Arden also recounted meeting Virginia Giuffre, another high-profile Epstein accuser, at a victims’ meeting with law enforcement. “Virginia asked why Maxwell was still walking around free. The agent responded they were going to find her.” When asked how daily Epstein coverage affects her, Arden grew emotional. “It’s very upsetting to me. I cry with tears like I am now… When I see it on the news every day, Jeffrey’s in my brain and I see him again and again, and I remember what he did to me.”
A Failure of Justice
Allred disclosed that when she inquired years ago about why no charges were brought in Arden’s case, law enforcement claimed they believed Arden only wanted to warn Epstein, not prosecute him, a claim Arden disputes. “Her position is she wanted him prosecuted. She would have testified,” Allred said. She emphasized that the lack of action in 1997 fits a broader pattern of systemic failures in supporting victims and prosecuting predators. “Law enforcement needs to do a better job of supporting victims,” she said, suggesting more victim advocates be present to guide survivors through the process.
The Bigger Picture
Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for sex trafficking and related crimes. Epstein died in 2019 in a Manhattan jail cell under circumstances officially ruled a suicide, though questions remain.
Allred argued for the release of the full transcript of Maxwell’s nine-hour interview with Todd Blanche, accompanied by corroborating evidence or proof of any falsehoods. She warned that without transparency, the political battle over Epstein’s legacy will continue to overshadow victims’ voices.
“The majority of people in the United States in most polls would like to see more transparency,” Allred concluded. “We need change and new laws to better protect victims from sexual predators.”
Sources:
ABC News – Alicia Arden Press Conference Coverage
CBS News – Gloria Allred on Epstein Case
Department of Justice – Ghislaine Maxwell Sentencing Release
