Epstein survivor describes 'blindness' around financier - and criticises justice department over files

The earliest publicly known survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse has told Sky News there was a "wilful blindness" about the young women and children around him - as she claimed the US Department of Justice (DoJ) had "broken the law" with the Epstein files.

Warning: This article contains details of sexual assault.

In 1991, Jess Michaels, then a 22-year-old professional dancer, was introduced to Epstein by a roommate who said he had a "fabulous experience" with the financier.

They met twice, with the first meeting being an interview at his office in Madison Avenue for a role as a masseuse.

During their second meeting at Epstein's penthouse, she said he raped her.

Speaking to Sky News presenter Barbara Serra, Ms Michaels said that while she did not meet anyone else in connection with the convicted sex offender, "the volume of wilful blindness and blatant disregard for the protection of the young women and the children" that were "very obviously around Jeffrey Epstein" was "horrific".

Three months after her encounter with Epstein, Ms Michaels said she left New York "because of the anxiety and the insomnia".

Six months after, she said she could "pull a pair of size zero jeans down off of my hips because I was really struggling to even eat properly", and noted that a friend remembered she "just slept all the time".

'That didn't even get us justice'

Speaking almost 35 years after her ordeal and days after the release of thousands of files relating to Epstein, Ms Michaels said her mission now "is that nothing like this happens again and that we change something".

However, the White House has come under heavy criticism as only a fraction of the files have so far been released, with many heavily redacted and some disappearing after being uploaded.

When asked how she felt about the latest release, Ms Michaels noted that the Epstein Transparency Act, signed by Donald Trump in November, required the DoJ to release all files by 19 December.

"The US Department of Justice has broken the law," she said. "Blatantly so. So sometimes I hear from people or journalists, 'so how do you feel? what comes up next?' I actually don't care."

She added the DoJ had "proved the point of why we needed to get an Act of Congress to actually listen to us and try to get justice. And that didn't even get us justice."

Ms Michaels later said "it's not unexpected", and said it marked the "exact same treatment we have received across five administrations".

It is important to note that inclusion in the Epstein files does not infer any wrongdoing.

'What do you expect us to do?'

Ms Michaels said she had been looking for her own statement she made to the FBI about Epstein, and said many survivors "want to hear the FBI tipline recordings because it proves the volume of victims that did come forward that maybe got disregarded".

In the wake of Epstein's arrest in 2019, the FBI set up a telephone number for any information on his crimes. However, Ms Michaels said she "initially got disregarded" when she rang.

"When they called back in 2019, the officer said to me, 'Well, we have to call everyone back, but it was 30 years ago. What do you expect us to do about it now?'"

Ms Michaels said she has not been able to find any information on her call to the FBI in the files released, and said it is "extremely frustrating because we don't know how to easily search this database".

She also noted that despite being told her statement was going to be used in Epstein's ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell's 2021 sex trafficking trial, "I never heard a word" and that "the lack of statement proves the negligence we've been saying all along".

Ms Michaels is the earliest victim of Epstein to have come forward with her experience.

Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Read more:
Victims express shock and outrage over incomplete release of files
The links between Epstein and the UK revealed in new files

He did not face prosecution for crimes relating to the sexual abuse of young girls until the 2000s. He was later arrested in Florida on state felony charges of procuring a minor for prostitution and solicitation of a prostitute in 2006.

An FBI investigation also found dozens of women had accused the financier of sexual assault, and it looked likely that the 53-page federal indictment built against him would see him face a lengthy prison sentence.

Epstein instead agreed to a plea deal and was convicted on those state charges, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison and was registered as a sex offender.

Read more: The mysterious life and death of Epstein

At the time of his death, Epstein was being held in custody on charges related to running a sex-trafficking scheme that involved dozens of underage girls.

He had pleaded not guilty and faced up to 45 years in prison if convicted.

Epstein was specifically accused of using his private jet, nicknamed the Lolita Express, to shuttle girls as young as 14 between his lavish residences in New York and Florida between 2002 and 2005.

In a post on X, US attorney general Pam Bondi said the DoJ would "bring charges against anyone involved in the trafficking and exploitation of Jeffrey Epstein's victims".

"We reaffirm this commitment, and ask any victim to please come forward with any information pertaining to any individuals who engaged in illicit activity at their expense," she said.

"We have met with many victims and victims groups, and will continue to do so if more reach out. Please contact myself, DAG Blanche, or the FBI and we will investigate immediately. We believe in the equal standard of justice in this country and will ensure that Justice is served."

The US deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche, said the justice department was continuing to review the remaining Epstein files and was withholding some documents under exemptions meant to protect victims.

"The only redactions being applied to the documents are those required by law - full stop. Consistent with the statute and applicable laws, we are not redacting the names of individuals or politicians unless they are a victim," the justice department said, quoting Mr Blanche in a post on X.

(c) Sky News 2025: Epstein survivor describes 'blindness' around financier - and criticises justice department