Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse have strongly condemned the US Department of Justice's handling of recently released files, with one victim stating that "a five-year-old could have done a better job" in redacting sensitive information. Jess Michaels and Lisa Phillips, in exclusive interviews with Sky News, expressed deep frustration over what they describe as a failure to protect victims' identities and ensure justice.
Criticism of Redaction Failures
Jess Michaels, who claims she was raped by Epstein in 1991 after meeting him as a professional dancer, spoke to Sky News' Jonathan Samuels on The World. She highlighted "extreme redactions and then extreme neglect to not redact" in the files, which were released on Friday. Michaels argued that the Department of Justice's efforts were embarrassingly inadequate, potentially exposing survivors' personal information and undermining their safety.
Legal and Personal Repercussions
Lawyers representing the survivors have criticised the redactions, noting that at least one woman who had not previously come forward with allegations had her identity revealed. Michaels added, "It is shocking the damage this department of justice has done... when they literally had one job, which was to redact survivors' names." She initially considered the errors as sloppy incompetence but now feels they might be purposeful attempts to intimidate or discredit victims.
Call for Transparency and Accountability
Lisa Phillips, another survivor, echoed these concerns, pointing out that the files contained many redactions of "powerful people" associated with Epstein. She insisted that the public should be able to see who these individuals are to ensure full transparency. Both survivors have called for key figures, such as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Peter Mandelson, to testify before Congress, given their documented relationships with Epstein.
Department of Justice's Response
In a court filing on Monday, the US Department of Justice stated it was "removing documents that inadvertently were produced and contain victim-identifying information." However, this response has done little to assuage the survivors' fears, with Phillips emphasising that everyone wants to hear testimony from those involved to uncover the truth.
Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, leaving many questions unanswered. The survivors' outcry underscores ongoing demands for justice and proper handling of abuse cases at the highest levels.
