S.A.T.E. Hosts Epstein Files Letter Writing Event

Charlotte Stack ’29

Contributing Writer

On Tuesday, Oct. 21, Students Against Trafficking and Exploitation (S.A.T.E.) hosted a letter-writing event in the Underground Coffeehouse in support of passing two bills that would release the Epstein files. The letters written will be sent to United States senators and representatives, as a way for constituents to voice their opinions regarding the proposed acts. 

The Epstein files have become a highly controversial and politically significant issue in the United States, with multiple politicians calling for their release. These files contain information regarding Jeffery Epstein’s sex trafficking, including alleged famous politicians and business elites who took part in these crimes. 

S.A.T.E held a different letter writing event last year after their founding in the fall of 2024 in support of the Take It Down Act, which requires websites to remove any non-consensual, intimate images at the victim’s request. The event saw letters “written to 50 members of Congress spanning across 21 states,” according to SATE president Charlotte Caracansi Bizup ’27. 

This year, S.A.T.E. wrote letters in support of the Produce Epstein Treasury Records Act and the Epstein Files Transparency Act, both of which would publicly release details about “suspicious activity reports relating to Jeffrey Epstein and his associates.” This is important to S.A.T.E. because keeping the files sealed allows “people in power [to participate in sex trafficking,] … and hide,” according to Melisa Byram ‘27, an organizer of the event. She added that by releasing them, it would “bring some justice to the people that were hurt.” 

The Underground was filled with enthusiastic students ready to write and eager for transparency and accountability. Free drinks were advertised to those who contacted representatives, but Caracansi Bizup claimed that some students were simply there to “write the letter, because they care about the cause,” not taking advantage of the open tab. Students were encouraged to write to elected officials in their home state, to reach as many people as possible. However, in an effort to remain inclusive, international students were able to write letters to Connecticut senators and representatives from the Hartford district. The event saw a total of 65 letters written. 

Due to the current government shutdown, it is unclear when these bills will be voted on. However, Caracansi Bizup remains optimistic, and hopes that Congress will resume soon and that they will be passed before Halloween.