Epstein's alleged abuse network detailed through survivor testimonies

New testimonies are shedding light on the alleged abuse network maintained by financier Jeffrey Epstein for years. One woman, identified as Anya by the BBC, shared her harrowing experience with the British network, describing a system of coercion and psychological manipulation that she likened to a cult.

Anya lived for years in a New York apartment owned by Epstein, which she claims was used to house women he abused. After his death in 2019, his brother, Mark Epstein, who denies knowledge of his brother's actions, allegedly asked her to leave the property.

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I am still struggling to come to terms with the fact that I was abused for years. You were not tied to a door or locked in a basement; the bonds were less visible, but they existed.

"I am still struggling to come to terms with the fact that I was abused for years," Anya stated. She elaborated that the bonds were "less visible" than being tied to a door or locked in a basement, but they were undeniably present. According to Anya, Epstein cultivated a network of women he called 'assistants.' Approximately a dozen women at a time lived in his properties, worked constantly under his orders, and allegedly endured systematic sexual abuse.

These women were reportedly lured with promises of jobs and career advancement, only to find themselves under Epstein's complete control. Anya claims Epstein dictated their finances, social interactions, and even their appearance, reportedly going as far as to mandate unnecessary and disfiguring surgeries.

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He was exceptionally skilled at destroying your ability to make decisions and making you completely dependent on him.

Sarah Kellen, another former assistant, corroborated these accounts to the U.S. House Oversight Committee, stating that Epstein presented himself as a "savior" to these women. "He was exceptionally skilled at destroying your ability to make decisions and making you completely dependent on him," she said. Clinical psychologist Dr. Tara Queen-Siriolo explained that recruiting adults through psychological control is not uncommon, noting that "you can become vulnerable to it, even as an adult."

After his 2008 conviction for abusing a minor, Epstein allegedly shifted his tactics, targeting adult women primarily from Russia and Eastern Europe, according to Anya. A university graduate and former model, Anya met Epstein through agent Daniel Shiah in Paris. She described it as a "set-up," calling him an "essentially professional trafficker."

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You can become vulnerable to it, even as an adult.

Their first meeting occurred in Epstein's luxurious Paris apartment, where he allegedly asked her to undress to "see her body" for modeling work. Epstein reportedly knew how to gain her trust, telling her, "I don't want to sleep with you."

Anya detailed that the manipulation process lasted months. Epstein pressured her to send photos, while his assistant, Lesley Groff, monitored her progress. When he eventually summoned her to Florida, where he was serving a sentence with day release, the alleged abuse continued.

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It was a set-up. He was essentially a professional trafficker.