The U.S. campaign arm working to elect House Democrats released a political advertisement on Monday featuring the family of Virginia Giuffre, who was the first victim of Jeffrey Epstein to go public with allegations of abuse. The advertisement was released in support of Democratic candidate Jessica Killin, who is facing incumbent Republican Rep. Jeff Crank in Colorado’s 5th Congressional District. It features a brother and sister-in-law of Giuffre, who died by suicide last year, speaking directly to camera and criticizing Crank for not meeting with them while lawmakers were considering votes to release files related to the late sex offender. “My sister, Virginia, was one of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims,” Giuffre’s brother Sky Roberts said in the ad. “She spent her life trying to expose the truth. After she died, we promised to carry on her fight.” Giuffre’s sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, continued: “But our own congressman, Jeff Crank, refused to meet with us. Then, when he had the chance to expose the truth and release the Epstein files, he repeatedly voted to cover them up.” The ad ends with the two meeting with Killin over cups of coffee. A Crank campaign spokesperson called the statements in the ad “intentionally vague.” “Congressman Crank voted to release the Epstein files in the only up or down vote on the floor of the House of Representatives,” the spokesperson said. “It took a Republican Congress to release these files and provide the first transparency into this issue. The statements contained in this ad are intentionally vague, and are purposefully so, because the fact pattern does not support desperate Lobbyist Jessica Killin’s desired political attack.” Crank last year had declined to sign a bipartisan discharge petition, which would have forced a vote to release thousands of files related to Epstein on the House floor. Later, joining nearly every other member of Congress, Crank voted to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which compelled the government to release extensive files pertaining to its investigations into Epstein. “I have consistently supported transparency and accountability regarding the business dealings, investigation, and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein,” Crank said in a statement at the time. Crank’s campaign also said it offered to meet with victims of Epstein ahead of the vote to release the files. Giuffre accused Epstein of trafficking her and forcing her to have sex with his friends. She alleged Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager. Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, has repeatedly denied claims of abuse. Epstein died by suicide while facing sex trafficking charges in 2019, spurring conspiracy theories and continuing intrigue related to his relationships with powerful men, including President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton. Both Trump and Clinton have said they cut off their relationships with Epstein years ago and denied having knowledge of his crimes. Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, which is made up of Colorado Springs and its suburbs, was once considered a reach for Democrats but may now be in play. Crank is serving in his first term after winning in 2024 by about 13 points. By Michael Williams, CNN
