In brief
Nicky, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein, discusses her harrowing experience where she was allegedly drugged and raped by the financier. Sharing her story for the first time on BBC Newsnight, she emphasizes the need for the US Department of Justice to release all remaining files on Epstein to aid healing for survivors. Despite the continued public discourse around Epstein's actions, Nicky highlights the challenges survivors face in moving forward.
Warning: This story contains graphic sexual descriptions
A woman who said she was drugged and raped by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has spoken publicly for the first time to BBC Newsnight about her ordeal.
The woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity and whom the BBC will refer to as Nicky, said she met the disgraced financier when she was 19, working as a model.
After giving him a massage at his mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, she was offered a drink of water that led her to black out for hours, during which she believes she was raped.
Nicky was encouraged to come forward after hearing from other survivors and now calls for the US Department of Justice to release all files related to Epstein's case.
'There's nothing you won't do to stop reliving all of it'
In the interview, Nicky detailed her interactions with Epstein, which began with a massage that escalated to unwanted sexual advances and ultimately to an incapacitating situation. She recounted how he offered her water, after which she has no recollection of the next 12 hours, waking up with signs of having been sexually assaulted.
Nicky described her mental struggles as she processes the trauma and highlighted her desire for clarity and justice, asking for the release of the remaining two million files pertaining to the Epstein investigations.
All Epstein files should be released 'properly, honestly, ethically'
Frustrated by the lack of transparency surrounding the case, particularly how the Department of Justice handled the release of documents, Nicky expressed her disappointment at government handling of Epstein's narrative and how it continues to overshadow victims' voices. She urges for clarity and accountability, stating, I would love for us to be able to heal. She emphasized the need for a shift from glorifying Epstein's legacy to focusing on the survivors and their experiences.
In Nicky's words, We survivors are nothing more than pawns for political discourse at this point, and it's disgusting. This statement reflects the sentiment shared by multiple survivors as they seek not only justice but also an opportunity for healing.
UK users can watch the full interview on Newsnight on BBC Two at 22:30 GMT and more of the BBC's conversations with Epstein survivors on BBC iPlayer.
