Deprived of trial, Jeffrey Epstein's accusers testify in New York

The death of Jeffrey Epstein ruined their hopes of a lawsuit. The accusers of the financier had the opportunity, Tuesday, August 27 in New York, to describe the calvary they suffered.

Judge Richard Berman invited the alleged victims to come to speak at an unprecedented hearing, before closing a file that was rendered obsolete by the hanging of the 66-year-old financier. He praised the "courage" of women who came out of silence, and described suicide as "a staggering turn of events".

Sixteen women took turns speaking. They explained how this figure of the jet set, who frequented people like Donald Trump, Bill Clinton or Prince Andrew, had "stolen" their innocence and broken their dreams. Seven other women had statements made by their lawyers.

"Today we are united, I will not be a victim or remain silent one more day," said actress Anouska De Georgiou, who claimed to have been sexually assaulted by the financier.

"I suffered and he won"

After talking, many embraced or consoled each other. Some cried while listening to the others evoke experiences sadly similar to theirs: how, while they were young and in situation often precarious, they had been "recruited", under the pretext of harmless massages, before being forced to have some sex with Jeffrey Epstein.

Chauntae Davies recounted spending two weeks in the hospital "throwing up to death" after being raped by the financier. "All the public humiliation I suffered, I suffered and he (Epstein) won," she said.

Another woman, who asked to remain anonymous, claimed to be "haunted forever", after having also been raped. "I was her slave, I felt disarmed and ashamed," she said, adding that Epstein had threatened to kill her if she lost her virginity.

"Justice will never be done"

Many of the women in attendance expressed outrage at Jeffrey Epstein's suicide on August 10th. "I am very angry and sad because justice will never be done in this case," Courtney Wild said, calling Epstein "cowardly".

Another presumed victim, Jennifer Araoz, said that "even with his death, Jeffrey Epstein is trying to hurt us." "The fact that I will never be able to confront my predator in court is gnawing at me," she said.

Several of Epstein's accusers claimed to have been "recruited" by Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of British media magnate Robert Maxwell, who was briefly Epstein's mate and then a close friend. The latter has always denied such accusations. Nobody could locate it so far.

"He did not act alone"

Most of the accusers called on prosecutors to hunt down her potential accomplices. "Please, finish what you started, the American victims are ready to tell the truth, he did not act alone," said Sarah Ransome, accusing Epstein of having organized an international sexual exploitation network.

"We must continue to do the truth and not stop there," said Virginia Giuffre, whose charges against Epstein and several other personalities including Prince Andrew were revealed in a series of court documents released in early August. The prince "knows exactly what he has done and I hope he will be honest," she told reporters after the hearing, while the prince vigorously denied any involvement.

#JeffreyEpstein survivor Virginia Giuffre, who delivered a profound statement in court this morning, said Andrew Price, Duke of York "knows exactly what he's done" and implied him to come to the end of his life in Epstein's sex trafficking ring. pic.twitter.com/QPmQyPYiy5

Federal prosecutor Maurene Comey promised them to continue the investigation. While the Department of Justice has opened two inquiries into the circumstances surrounding this suicide and the forensic pathologist has formally concluded a hanging suicide, Jeffrey Epstein's lawyer, Martin Weinberg, has said he still doubts this explanation, and called the judge to open his own investigation.

With AFP