In a Capitol Hill press conference filled with quiet resolve and visible grief, the family of Virginia Giuffre—brother Sky and sister-in-law Amanda—stood beside Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, holding photos of the late advocate who once spoke truth to unimaginable power. Virginia, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent survivors, had fought for years to change a system that silenced victims with a cruel deadline: “Too late.”
No longer.
Schumer and Fernández have introduced Virginia’s Law, a landmark federal bill named in her honor. It eliminates the statute of limitations for adult survivors of sexual abuse and sex trafficking to file civil claims, allowing them to seek justice whenever they are emotionally ready—often years or decades later—rather than within the current 10-year window (or none at all for some crimes). The legislation also includes a one-year lookback window for past cases and addresses jurisdictional loopholes that let abusers evade accountability.
“Time should never be a weapon in an abuser’s arsenal,” said Fernández. Schumer added that Epstein relied on silence and a system protecting the powerful—but “today we are saying no more.”
This bill honors Giuffre’s legacy while opening the door for countless survivors to finally confront their abusers.
Justice has no expiration date.
In a Capitol Hill press conference filled with quiet resolve and visible grief, the family of Virginia Giuffre—brother Sky Roberts and sister-in-law Amanda—stood beside Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, holding photos of the late advocate who once spoke truth to unimaginable power. Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent survivors and advocates, had fought for years to change a system that silenced victims with a cruel deadline: “Too late.”
No longer.
On February 10, 2026, Schumer and Fernández introduced Virginia’s Law, a landmark federal bill named in her honor. The legislation eliminates the statute of limitations for adult survivors of sexual abuse and sex trafficking to file civil claims, allowing them to seek justice whenever they are emotionally ready—often years or decades later—rather than within the current 10-year window (or none at all for some crimes under existing federal law). It amends provisions like 18 U.S.C. § 1595 for trafficking claims and creates new causes of action for violations under §§ 2241–2243 and §§ 2421–2423 related to sexual abuse and transportation for illegal acts.
The bill also includes a one-year lookback window, enabling survivors whose claims were previously time-barred to file within one year of enactment. This addresses the reality of trauma: research shows 94% of rape survivors experience PTSD symptoms shortly after assault, with many only feeling safe to disclose years or decades later due to fear, coercion, and manipulation. Virginia’s Law further tackles jurisdictional loopholes, preventing abusers from evading accountability by crossing state or international borders.
Giuffre, trafficked by Epstein starting as a teenager, accused him and associates like Ghislaine Maxwell of abuse and became a leading voice for survivors. Her efforts contributed to Maxwell’s conviction and broader scrutiny of Epstein’s network. Tragically, she died by suicide on April 25, 2025, at age 41 in Neergabby, Western Australia, where she lived with her family. Her posthumous memoir, Nobody’s Girl, published in October 2025, further highlighted her resilience and the enduring impact of abuse.
At the press conference, Sky Roberts said, “Grief without action is another kind of silence. And Virginia did not survive what she survived just to be silenced again.” Amanda Roberts added that the law declares: “We see you, we believe you, and what happened to you matters.” Schumer emphasized, “Jeffrey Epstein depended on silence and fear, on a system that protected power instead of protecting people. Today we are saying no more.” Fernández declared, “Time should never be a weapon in an abuser’s arsenal,” noting predators often hide behind wealth, power, and the clock.
Building on 2022 reforms that removed limits for child victims, Virginia’s Law extends protections to adults, where federal civil remedies were often limited or nonexistent. Advocates from World Without Exploitation and attorney Sigrid McCawley, who represented Giuffre, joined the event, underscoring its urgency.
This bill honors Giuffre’s legacy while opening the door for countless survivors to finally confront their abusers. In a divided Congress, its passage will require bipartisan support, but the message is clear: justice delayed by arbitrary timelines is justice denied.
Justice has no expiration date.
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