Epstein’s longtime assistant accused three previously unknown abusers connected to him, Oversight chair says

jeffrey epstein‘s longtime assistant named three new alleged abusers in a network of convicted sex offenders to the House Oversight Committee; a statement that committee chairman James Comer described as a hopeful clue in this regard. panel’s investigation into Epstein’s misdeeds.

Comer said assistant Sarah Kellen provided the names in a closed-door interview Thursday. He declined to name the people but said they were not previously known and promised to release a transcript of Kellen’s interview as soon as possible.

“New names, these are what we are waiting for,” Comer said, adding, “I am more optimistic today than I have been in a long time.”

Kellen is a polarizing figure in Epstein’s orbit; This individual gained access to key information about Epstein’s activities through his work with the former financier. In 2007, he was labeled by law enforcement as a potential accomplice of Epstein, and many believe he helped him recruit and abuse girls. But she has described herself as a victim of Epstein’s abuse, and some observers acknowledge that her experience was complicated, even as law enforcement investigated her for possibly aiding Epstein.

In testimony held behind closed doors for hours on Thursday, Kellen said he was not an accomplice to Epstein and had no idea his name would be mentioned in a non-prosecution agreement that Epstein struck from the early 2000s. Rather, Kellen testified that he “worked for and was sexually and psychologically abused by Jeffrey Epstein,” according to a copy of his opening statement shared with CNN.

Kellen described in graphic detail some of the sexual abuse he said he suffered.

“I want this Committee to know that harassment occurs on an average weekly basis and is occasionally violent,” Kellen said, according to the statement. “This includes Jeffrey breaking into my room in the middle of the night, sticking his fingers inside me, and waking me up from my sleep. Including an incident in Palm Beach where he trapped me in the gym by pulling down the metal hurricane shutter, blasting the music so loud no one could hear it, choking me, and violently raping me.”

Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansbury told reporters that she asked Kellen about his experiences: Epstein’s New Mexico ranchIt’s where the state investigation is ongoing, and Kellen said it was one of the places where she was abused by Epstein.

For years, Kellen said, there was absolutely no way she could escape Epstein’s powerful grip: “I had nowhere else to go. I had no money, no family, no education, and no idea that I deserved better.”

Stansbury said he also asked Kellen whether he believed Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell should have done this. moved to a lower security prison or whether Maxwell should receive a presidential pardon. Kellen said no to both questions and even blamed Maxwell for some of Epstein’s wrongdoings, saying, according to Stansbury, “Maxwell turned Epstein into a monster.”

Comer argued that the Justice Department did not interview Kellen until 2019, an example of how investigators mishandled the Epstein case. CNN has reached out to the Department of Justice for comment.

“Every time we bring in more evidence that the government failed the victims, it’s clear,” Comer said.

After hearing his testimony, Comer said he believed Kellen was a victim of Epstein’s crimes, not a potential co-conspirator.

“Of all the people we’ve interviewed so far, this was the most comprehensive and productive interview we’ve ever done. She was so brave in coming forward. I can’t imagine how difficult it was for her to go into detail about the abuse she suffered at the hands of Epstein and Maxwell,” Comer said.

But others told Kellen they had other questions. Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi said the panel should consider bringing Kellen back for an interview under the subpoena because there were some questions Kellen did not answer in the voluntary setting of Thursday’s interview.

“What I want to hear is more discussion about other actors, other entities, other women who are potential conspirators in this,” Krishnamoorthi said.

Another source familiar with Kellen’s testimony told CNN that Kellen was willing to answer questions about his own abuse but would not share any information about abuse he knew others had experienced.

While Kellen said he never witnessed any inappropriate behavior by President Donald Trump, he believed that Epstein and Trump were once close because Trump’s photos were hung in all of Epstein’s properties, the source said.

Comer said Kellen testified that Epstein went to Mar-a-Lago to train, but Trump expelled him because Epstein was “hitting on a member’s daughter or something.”

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