Epstein Victim Recounts 'Invisible Chains' of Control on Private Island
Juliette Bryant, a 43-year-old survivor of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, has spoken out about the harrowing experience of being trafficked and held on Epstein's private island. She described the psychological and physical control as "invisible chains" that kept her ensnared for years under the convicted paedophile billionaire's influence.
Recruitment from Cape Town
In 2002, at the age of 20, Juliette was a first-year university student and aspiring model in Cape Town, South Africa. She was recruited by Epstein during a meeting at a local restaurant, which also included former US President Bill Clinton, actors Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker, who were there on an official AIDS awareness trip. Juliette, from a financially struggling family, initially saw this as a dream opportunity to change her life for the better.
She said, "It just seemed like my dreams were all coming true because our family was struggling financially and I just really wanted to try and make a difference for my family."
Trafficking to the Caribbean
Three weeks after that first meeting, Juliette was on a flight to New York for her first overseas trip. Shortly after arriving, she was informed she would be traveling to the Caribbean. A driver took her to Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, where she boarded a private jet with Epstein and the women who had recruited her in Cape Town.
On the plane, Epstein assaulted her, and she realized the danger she was in. Juliette recounted, "As the plane took off, he started forcibly touching me in between my legs, and I just freaked out and I suddenly realised - oh my God, my family aren't going to see me again, these people might kill me, you know?" The other women on board laughed, leaving her petrified.
Life on the Private Island
Upon arrival, she was taken by helicopter to Epstein's private island in the Caribbean. Her passport was confiscated, making escape impossible. Juliette spent much of her time alone, reading books or taking photos with disposable cameras she found in the kitchen. Her photos from that period alternate between forced smiles with other young women and haunting images of desolation and loneliness.
She was repeatedly raped by Epstein during her stay, though she says she was not trafficked to other men. Juliette described the isolation, "I would see him at lunch, breakfast and dinner, and then I would be called to his room. Otherwise, I didn't see a lot of him, he was always off working. I spent a lot of time there on my own."
Broader Implications and Legal Context
Juliette's story emerges amid ongoing calls for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to explain his links to Epstein during his role as a UK trade envoy. Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Emails from the Epstein files indicate she was likely not the only young woman trafficked from Cape Town, with flight details showing unnamed females shuttled to cities like London, Atlanta, and New York up until late 2018.
In 2022, Juliette testified in court about the nightmares she suffered, calling Ghislaine Maxwell "a monster" who "opened the door to hell." Maxwell was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison. Brad Edwards, the lawyer who secured a £12 million settlement for Virginia Giuffre, has urged the FBI to continue its investigation into others linked to Epstein and Maxwell.
Edwards stated, "Let's hope they're the next target. If we have anything to do with it, they will be." He is supported by top lawyer Spencer Kuvin, who represents several victims of Epstein and Maxwell, highlighting the ongoing pursuit of justice in this high-profile case.
