SCHUMER, STANDING WITH BUFFALO SURVIVORS & ADVOCATES, ANNOUNCES NEW LEGISLATION — IN HONOR OF EPSTEIN VICTIMS — TO END FEDERAL STATUTE-OF-LIMITATIONS BARRIER THAT LETS ABUSERS[...]

Virginia's Law, Named In Honor Of Epstein Victim, Will Eliminate Federal Statute Of Limitations That Let Criminals Like Jeffrey Epstein Run Out The Clock To Escape Prosecution, And Provides New Legal Avenues For Survivors To Pursue Justice

Schumer Has Been Pushing For Years For Full Transparency & Release Of The Epstein Files To Bring Justice For Survivors, And Says New Legislation Is Critical To End Legal Barriers So Victims Can Come Forward When They Are Able, Not On The Government's Clock

Schumer: Justice Should Not Expire

Standing alongside Buffalo survivors and advocates at BRAVE Trauma Recovery Center, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today announced Virginia's Law, new landmark legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations that has shielded traffickers like Jeffrey Epstein and denied sexual exploitation survivors their day in court.

"Justice should not expire. No survivor should ever be told that the law failed them, and time mattered more than the truth. That's why I'm proud to introduce Virginia's Law to eliminate the federal statute of limitations barriers that have kept too many survivors from pursuing justice," said Senator Schumer. "Our law makes clear that abusers, and those who enabled them, cannot escape responsibility by running out the clock. It makes clear the law will empower survivors to pursue justice, and it recognizes something survivors have always known: time does not erase harm. Jeffrey Epstein depended on silence and fear, on a system that protected power instead of protecting people. Today, we are saying no more. The time for justice is now, and Congress must act."

Schumer explained that, currently, federal law allows a federal claim to proceed by an adult survivor if it is brought within 10 years of the abuse, which has allowed criminals to escape justice by running out the clock. Virginia's Law removes the federal statute of limitations for adult survivors to bring civil claims and hold their abusers accountable at a time that is right for the survivor - when they are strong enough and mentally healthy enough to be able to face the significant challenges of civil litigation. The bill also creates new causes of action, without a statute of limitations time bar, to create new legal avenues for survivors to pursue justice and ensure survivors can bring additional claims against abusers. In addition, the legislation also helps ensure this applies extraterritorially without negatively impacting ongoing cases, so abusers can't take victims to regions outside the United States and avoid civil liability.

The bill is named in honor of Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's early accusers who came forward about her experiences and advocated for years to strengthen current law to better protect survivors. Schumer first announced the legislation this past week with Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) and standing alongside Virginia's family and other Epstein survivors. The text of the legislation can be found here.

"This bill carries Virginia Giuffre's name because she spoke when so many were told not to. The survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have waited long enough. Virginia waited long enough. We can't let abusers hide behind their power and the clock. Virginia's story and the stories of so many other survivors in Buffalo and beyond demand more than sympathy; they demand action. The time for justice is now," Schumer added.

Schumer explained this bill will support survivors in places like the BRAVE Trauma Recovery Center and Haven House. In 2023 alone, Erie County reported 6,594 domestic violence victims, a 27.9% increase since 2020. Local service providers are working at or beyond capacity. Since BRAVE's inception, the program has provided services to over 4000 victims of violence. BRAVE began working with survivors of human trafficking in 2024 after receiving federal funds to support these survivors and has provided services to over 80 survivors of sex/labor trafficking. Additionally, BRAVE has worked with 192 survivors of sexual assault and over 1000 survivors of domestic violence. Haven House served 186 individuals in 2025 yet was forced to turn away nearly 600 due to capacity limitations, while its 24-hour confidential hotline handled 1,804 calls. Upward trends in reported victims, protection orders, and safety-related disclosures demonstrate a sustained and urgent need for increased protection and advocacy for abuse victims.

"For survivors of sexual abuse, healing does not follow a uniform timetable. Survivors should have the opportunity to seek justice when they are ready, without federal barriers standing in the way. I'm grateful to Senator Schumer for leading the effort to pass Virginia's Law and standing up for survivors in Buffalo and across the country," said City of Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan.

"Virginia's Law will help to ensure that victims are able to obtain justice no matter how long ago they were victimized, and that perpetrators will never have a day to rest easy thinking they've gotten away with their crimes," said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. "I thank Senator Schumer for moving this legislation forward to protect victims, hold abusers accountable and see that justice is done."

Paula Kovanic Spiro, LMSW, MPH, Director, BRAVE Trauma Recovery Center said, "Thank you to Senator Schumer for creating this vitally important federal legislation known as "Virginia's Law" that recognizes something those of us in trauma work understand deeply: healing is not linear, and it does not follow a legal timeline. By removing time limits for certain civil claims related to sexual abuse and human trafficking, this legislation acknowledges what trauma science and lived experience have long shown: survivors should not lose the opportunity to seek justice simply because their healing did not occur within an arbitrary window of time. At BRAVE we want to remind survivors that the abuse was not their fault, and that support is available."

"Child and Family Services applauds the introduction of Virginia's Law and Senator Chuck Schumer's effort to remove time limits that prevent survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking from seeking justice. The resolution of trauma does not follow a timeline. Survivors deserve the opportunity to be heard when they are ready," said Elizabeth McPartland, President and CEO Child and Family Services.

"Project Mona's House serves survivors of sexual abuse and human trafficking every day. We know that trauma does not operate on a legal timeline, and too often, survivors have been denied justice because of procedural barriers. I want to thank Senator Chuck Schumer for his leadership bringing Virginia's Law to the forefront. This legislation represents significant reform by expanding federal civil remedies and ensuring that those who knowingly profit from exploitation can be held accountable. Justice should not expire, and neither should accountability," said Kelly Diane Galloway, Founding Director, Project Mona's House; Member, NYS Task Force on Missing Women & Girls Who Are BIPOC.

"Virginia's Law is about a simple but powerful principle: accountability should not have a deadline. I commend Senator Chuck Schumer for introducing this critical legislation and for standing with survivors. For too long, statutes of limitations have shielded perpetrators and denied survivors justice. Many survivors need years to process trauma or feel safe enough to come forward. 'Virginia's Law' ensures they can pursue justice whenever they are ready, no matter how much time has passed. Survivors deserve the chance to hold their abusers accountable," said Sheri Scavone, CEO, WNY Women's Foundation.

Schumer has long been an advocate for justice for Epstein survivors. Since 2019, Schumer has called for the release of the Epstein files. After Epstein's sweetheart plea deal, Senator Schumer called for the Office of Professional Responsibility to stop stonewalling and make the documentation public, adding he wanted the Senate to have hearings on the matter. More recently, in July, Leader Schumer and Democratic committee colleagues pushed the DOJ to turn over the Epstein files by citing their authority under a little-known statute, the Rule of Five. And in September, Senator Schumer offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would have directed AG Bondi to release all unclassified documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. In addition, Schumer led the push to successfully pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act in December and continues to push the Trump administration to release full files.

Schumer has also repeatedly led efforts in the Senate to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to increase protections for abuse victims and set aside funding for shelters, most recently securing its inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2022 funding bill.

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