Lisa Phillips, a former model who was abused by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, is set to travel from Los Angeles to the UK next week to meet with Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester and a potential future prime minister. Phillips, now 42, was 21 when she was preyed upon by Epstein over two decades ago. She has since become an outspoken advocate for victims' justice and is calling for a public inquiry into Epstein's activities in Britain.
According to The Sun on Sunday, Phillips stated that Burnham is "interested" in her views. She emphasized the need for a public inquiry, saying, "A public inquiry is the only way to get to the truth of what's happened in the UK with Epstein. Andy Burnham has to do it because there's so much evidence and so many MPs supporting our calls."
Demands for Investigation into High-Profile Figures
Phillips plans to urge Burnham to investigate the roles of Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, and former UK ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson. She said, "When I meet him I will tell Andy that we need an inquiry into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson." She added that an inquiry would compel investigators to examine testimonies from Epstein's victims, stating, "It might take six years but we have to do it. We need the truth."
Phillips previously had an opportunity to meet with Darren Jones, chief treasury secretary under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, but she insisted on taking her concerns to a higher authority.
Background on Epstein and UK Police Investigation
Jeffrey Epstein died in a New York prison cell on August 10, 2019, while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The US Department of Justice has since released over 3.5 million pages of documents related to his crimes. In May, Surrey Police announced it was investigating two separate allegations of non-recent child sexual abuse linked to Epstein's network. One allegation involves locations in Surrey and Berkshire between the mid-1990s and 2000, while the other relates to west Surrey in the mid-to-late 1980s.
Surrey Police have interviewed alleged victims and are searching for evidence to substantiate the claims. No arrests have been made yet. This marks the first British police investigation into Epstein-related harm against females.
Impact and Ongoing Calls for Justice
Phillips's meeting with Burnham underscores the continued pressure for accountability in the UK regarding Epstein's network. The public inquiry she advocates could potentially expose further details about the financier's connections and activities in Britain, including his association with prominent figures. The meeting is scheduled for next week, and Phillips remains determined to push for a thorough investigation.
