Epstein Survivors Say GOP Convention Ejected Them Despite Guest Passes and No Protest

Three survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse were removed from the Republican Party's midterm convention in Dallas on 10 September, minutes after questioning a congressional candidate about the long-delayed release of the Epstein files.

Independent journalist Tara Palmeri, who brought them as guests, said her press credential was also revoked.

All five had entered the American Airlines Center legitimately, with Palmeri carrying a media credential and her guests holding approved passes, before security escorted them out roughly 35 minutes later and told Palmeri she could be arrested for trespassing if she returned.

A Credentialed Interview Raises Questions

Palmeri entered the venue at approximately 14.05 local time with her producer, Abi Baker, and three Epstein survivors, one of whom has publicly identified herself as Marijke Chartouni. Each had a guest pass and had been admitted to the event, and the group carried no signs or staged a protest, according to Palmeri's account.

By 14.08, Palmeri had approached Robert Burke, the Republican candidate for Massachusetts' 8th Congressional District, and introduced herself as an independent journalist.

Two minutes later, she disclosed that she was accompanied by Epstein survivors and began the interview, saying: 'I'm going to start with kind of a tough question. I'm with some survivors of Jeffrey Epstein.'

Burke replied, 'Okay, that's a great topic,' before saying the public needed to know what happened 'from the beginning.'

Palmeri then pressed him on why so few of the more than six million pages identified by the Justice Department as potentially responsive had been released, why no additional prosecutions had followed those of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and whether he would support further disclosures if elected.

The Justice Department says it has released nearly 3.5 million pages from more than six million pages identified as potentially responsive.

It says the unreleased material includes duplicate records, privileged material, statutory exceptions and records it considers unrelated to the Epstein and Maxwell cases, while protections also apply to victims and child sexual abuse material.

Burke said he would support releasing further material if elected. One survivor asked whether he would back accountability for anyone implicated, 'regardless of their party affiliation.' Burke responded that 'unlawful touching is unlawful touching' and that 'consent is consent.'

Guest Passes Then a Sudden Ejection

The interview ended amicably, with Palmeri and Burke shaking hands. Roughly eight minutes later, at approximately 14.19, at least three security personnel approached the group.

According to Chartouni, a plainclothes woman had been standing behind them and made a phone call shortly before security approached. The account has not been independently verified, and there is no evidence that the call was connected to the removal.

Guards first asked whether the group was carrying signs. Palmeri said they were not, pointed to their clear bags and explained that she was a credentialed journalist while her companions had approved guest passes.

A guard told her, 'This isn't even where media sits.' Palmeri responded, 'We're allowed to talk to guests. We're allowed to talk to people. That's why we're here. We're media.' Security then escorted the group towards the exit.

Palmeri said she tripped on a staircase and fell during the removal. By approximately 14.40, about 35 minutes after they had entered, the group was outside the security barricade, and Palmeri was told she was barred from the venue and could be arrested for trespassing if she returned.

Her media credential had been revoked. Palmeri said she asked an RNC official to explain what rule had been broken and address the claim that the group had been carrying signs, but had received no response as of publication.

Renewed Scrutiny Over Epstein Files

The ejection comes amid renewed scrutiny within the Republican Party over the handling of the Epstein files. Burke told Palmeri he would back the Epstein Files Transparency Act II, legislation introduced in July 2026 that would give state attorneys general a mechanism to challenge the Justice Department's handling of the files.

He also called for further congressional hearings into Epstein's associates.

Palmeri has continued publishing footage of the confrontation on her Substack newsletter, The Red Letter, and social media.

She has argued that the group's questions appeared to prompt the response, although her account does not establish that this was the reason for their removal.

The Republican National Committee has not publicly explained the ejection or disputed Palmeri's account.

The incident adds to controversies surrounding the Dallas convention and puts Epstein survivors at the centre of renewed political scrutiny over the handling of the files.

Whether the incident prompts any review of convention security or credentialing rules remains unclear.