Rep. Ro Khanna drew attention this week after announcing that Haley Robson will attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address as his invited guest. The announcement, shared on social media, quickly generated discussion in Washington due to Robson’s past connection to convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Robson previously appeared in the Netflix documentary Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich, where she discussed her experiences as a teenager. She has publicly stated that she met Epstein while in high school in Florida and later became involved in circumstances she has since described as traumatic and misguided. In interviews, Robson has spoken about the long-term emotional impact of those events and the scrutiny that followed.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal charges related to the sexual abuse of minors. He died later that year while in custody in New York, and his death was ruled a suicide by the medical examiner. Investigations into his activities and associates have continued to generate public and political interest in the years since.
Khanna’s invitation comes as some lawmakers, including Rep. Thomas Massie, have advocated for the release of additional records related to Epstein’s case. Supporters describe these efforts as part of broader calls for transparency, while others question how the issue is being raised in the political arena.
Robson has said that sharing her story publicly has been difficult but that she hopes it contributes to greater awareness and support for survivors. Khanna characterized his guest selection as an effort to highlight survivor perspectives, though the decision has sparked conversation ahead of the president’s address.