FLASH
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In an interview with BBC Newsnight, several survivors share their experiences for the first time and raise doubts about the role of powerful figures.
Joanna Harrison had never wanted to talk about the abuse she says she suffered at the hands of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Like many other survivors, she says the experience left her feeling ashamed and embarrassed. But after her name was inadvertently made public in the release of millions of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice, she decided to speak out.
In an interview with BBC Newsnight journalist Victoria Derbyshire, Harrison said: "There comes a point when you're drowning and you need to breathe, and this is my way of breathing."
BBC Newsnight brought Harrison and four other survivors together in the same room for the first time. Over the course of several hours, they shared difficult experiences and reacted emotionally as they viewed photographs from the time they met Epstein.
The interviewees described experiences on Epstein's private island, Little St. James, as well as his ranch in New Mexico, which they described as "cold, dark and scary." They added that they believe powerful people in his circle likely knew what was happening.
The release of the documents revealed the identities of some victims, as parts of the material had not been properly redacted. Harrison was among those who lost their anonymity. She said: " It's not normal to see your abuser's face every day for six years on television."
She said she met Epstein in Florida when she was 18 and that it all started with a massage. " Everything seemed normal," she said. " When he started masturbating, I was completely paralyzed. I don't think I said two words on the way home."
She later claimed that he raped her on his birthday. Harrison added: "I have questions that will never be answered."
In the same interview, Chauntae Davies shared previously unseen photos from a trip to Africa on Epstein's private jet, which also included Ghislaine Maxwell, actor Kevin Spacey and former US President Bill Clinton. According to her: "I described it in my diary as the most diverse group of people you could put together... it was like a camp, because we were travelling to five countries in five days."
She added: " It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and unfortunately it was tainted by what happened behind closed doors."
Davies has said she was raped by Epstein on his private island. She also said she gave Clinton a massage during a stopover in Portugal and described him as “humble, kind and charismatic.” Clinton has previously said she was unaware of the abuse.
Regarding the Zorro Ranch in New Mexico, Davies said: “That’s where most of the abuse happened. That’s where I have my darkest memories .” She added that she felt “trapped” and that the place had “a cold, dark, scary feel.”
Lisa Phillips, another survivor, said: "I remember thinking: 'This place is really scary' . "
Phillips also recounted a conversation with Epstein, where she said he said, “I like to have things on people.” She added, “I think he liked that we were paralyzed with fear and didn’t know what to do.”
In relation to an alleged case involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Phillips said a friend of hers was instructed to have sex with her. Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied the allegations.
Survivors also expressed disbelief at the official version of Epstein's death. "We knew him, we knew what kind of person he was," Phillips said.
At the end of the interview, they reflected on the long-term impact of their experiences. Wendy Pesante said, “ When you go through something like that at such a young age, it distorts reality for a long time.” While Harrison said, “ I don’t smile the same way I used to.”
Their stories bring to light the ongoing fallout from the Epstein case and the challenges victims face in seeking justice.
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