In a series of interviews with the BBC, five women who say they were abused by Jeffrey Epstein provided harrowing accounts of their experiences. One survivor described how Epstein 'liked the fear in their eyes', while another said she no longer smiles in the same way after the abuse. The women were unanimous in their belief that Epstein did not take his own life in August 2019, with one survivor saying that 'whoever killed him silenced him'. Another survivor said Epstein knew he would get away with it.
Liz Stein, who met Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell when she was a senior in college, delivered a victim impact statement after Maxwell's sentencing for sex trafficking. Joanna Harrison told BBC News that she met Epstein in Florida when she was 18, and everything began with a massage. She said Epstein raped her on his birthday. Chauntae Davies shared never-before-seen images of her time travelling with Epstein on his private plane to Africa, including photos with Maxwell, Kevin Spacey, and Bill Clinton. She described Epstein's Zorro Ranch as having a 'cold, dark, eerie feeling' and said the majority of assaults happened there. A survivor using the pseudonym 'Nicky' said Epstein drugged and raped her at his Palm Beach mansion when she was 19. Nicky said Epstein gave her water from a Fiji Water bottle and she had no recollection for at least 12 hours after drinking it.
All survivors interviewed by BBC Newsnight said their experiences with Epstein began with them giving him a paid massage and escalated into sexual assault. The pattern was consistent: a massage that turned into rape, often accompanied by drugging. Nicky's account of being given water from a Fiji Water bottle and losing consciousness for at least 12 hours is one of several allegations of drugging. The survivors described a systematic method of grooming and assault that spanned years.
I wish Chauntae had told me, I liked her, but I didn’t think it was anything unusual.
Chauntae Davies' photos include a notable image of her giving Bill Clinton a neck massage during a trip to Africa. Clinton said in testimony: 'I wish Chauntae had told me, I liked her, but I didn't think it was anything unusual.' The photos also show Davies with Maxwell, Spacey, and Clinton, providing a visual record of her time with Epstein's inner circle.
The survivors described ongoing trauma and a quest for justice that remains unfulfilled. Chauntae Davies said the abuse ruined her marriage and left her paranoid about her daughter's interactions with men. According to BBC News, Joanna Harrison described doubting that she and other survivors would ever get justice now that Epstein is dead. One survivor said she no longer smiles in the same way after the abuse.
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein appeared in an advert calling for the release of more files related to him. The advert was released by the World Without Exploitation group on Super Bowl Sunday, though it was not aired on television during the Super Bowl because the group could not afford the cost, according to Reuters. The advert stated that 3 million files still have not been released.
I doubted she and other survivors would ever get justice now that Epstein is dead.
The US Department of Justice was required by law to make all Epstein files public by December 2025 under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Only some files have been released, many with redactions. The DOJ said files not published were either unrelated, duplicates, or withheld under deliberative process or attorney-client privilege, or because they depicted violence. Deputy US Attorney General Todd Blanche said the 30 January release marks the end of a comprehensive document review process. Blanche denied there is a hidden tranche of information about men being covered up.
Uncertainty remains about the circumstances of Epstein's death and the completeness of the file releases. The survivors were unanimous in their belief that Epstein did not take his own life, with one survivor saying that 'whoever killed him silenced him'. The advert from World Without Exploitation claimed that 3 million files still have not been released, contradicting the DOJ's assertion that the review process is complete. The DOJ has stated that files not published were either unrelated, duplicates, or withheld under privilege, but the survivors and their advocates remain skeptical.
Prominent figures appear in the files, but mentioning them by name is not proof of misconduct. Chauntae Davies' photos with Bill Clinton and Kevin Spacey have drawn attention, but no evidence of wrongdoing by these individuals has been established. The files include references to many high-profile associates, but the limits of the evidence mean that public figures named are not necessarily implicated in crimes.
Survivors expressed skepticism about the possibility of justice. According to BBC News, Joanna Harrison described doubting that she and other survivors would ever get justice now that Epstein is dead. Deputy US Attorney General Todd Blanche has denied there is a hidden tranche of information about men being covered up, and said the 30 January release marks the end of a comprehensive document review process. However, the survivors and their advocates continue to push for full transparency, pointing to the advert's claim that 3 million files remain unreleased.