Marina Lacerda, a key witness in the Jeffrey Epstein case, spoke publicly for the first time, urging lawmakers to release records related to the convicted sex offender. Lacerda, 37, was identified as "Minor-Victim 1" in Epstein's 2019 indictment. Her testimony was crucial in securing charges against Epstein for sex trafficking minors.

In an interview with ABC News, Lacerda called on the Trump administration to make the records public, stating, "I would like for them to give all the victims transparency, right, to what happened and release these files. It's also not only for the victims, but for the American people." Epstein, a wealthy financier, died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019.

Federal investigators first contacted Lacerda in 2008, but Epstein had already secured a controversial non-prosecution agreement, preventing her from testifying before a grand jury. It wasn't until more than a decade later that investigators returned to her, using her experiences to build a case against Epstein.

Lacerda met Epstein at the age of 14 in 2002 when she was recruited to provide a massage at his New York home. This encounter led to years of sexual abuse. "His house was a revolving door. There was always girls," she recalled. "If he was in New York, he had his week prepped to see as many girls as possible. I would say he was seeing about five to maybe eight women, maybe even more, maybe up to ten women a day."

After immigrating from Brazil, Lacerda lived in Queens with her family. A friend introduced her to Epstein, presenting it as a way to earn money. "She had said that, you know, I was going to massage somebody and there wasn't much specifics," Lacerda explained. "I wasn't expecting what led on to that day because I think with Jeffrey Epstein, it starts somewhere, but then it ends. Either you having sex with them whether you like it or not."

Over the next three years, Lacerda was forced to have sex with Epstein two to three times a week. "He forced me to have sex with him. Basically. I really had no choice," she said. Although Epstein paid her thousands of dollars, she believed that being associated with him would help her as an immigrant.

As she grew older, Lacerda noticed Epstein's interest in her waning. "It came to a point when I was, I'd say, 16 and a half or 17. He didn't want me anymore. He was just like, you're too old," she said. Years later, when the FBI contacted her again, she was prepared to testify but was thwarted by Epstein's legal maneuvers.

"I would have felt much better today speaking if I was able to speak in 2008," Lacerda said. "If they gave me the chance to speak, these women would not be through this."

Lacerda's testimony ultimately helped prosecutors unravel Epstein's alleged network of child sex abuse. Recently, she met with Congressional lawmakers alongside other survivors, emphasizing the need for transparency. "We need to have transparency. We need the Epstein files to be out," she stated. "Today I spoke about it -- I want to have my files so that I can begin to heal."

The Trump administration has faced criticism for not releasing more information related to Epstein's case, with many calling for accountability and transparency for the victims.