Republican Lawmakers Are Demanding a DOJ Probe Into Two High-Profile Figures After Explosive New Testimony From Epstein’s Former Assistant
Victim-turned-enabler?
Lawmakers have formally asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate two high-profile men after new testimony from Jeffrey Epstein’s former assistant. House Republicans revealed that Sarah Kellen, who worked for Epstein for over a decade, told the oversight committee in a closed-door interview that she was sexually assaulted by celebrity hairstylist Frédéric Fekkai and former Miami Beach mayor Philip Levine in separate incidents in the early 2000s.
According to The Guardian, the request was made to acting attorney general Todd Blanche on June 4, 2026. Republican representatives James Comer, Lauren Boebert, William Timmons, Clay Higgins, and Andy Biggs asked the DOJ to use all available tools, including immunity for certain witnesses, to investigate the allegations against Levine and Fekkai. Neither man has been charged with any crime related to Epstein, and both have denied the accusations.
Kellen’s testimony is the latest development in the ongoing congressional investigation into Epstein’s network. Comer, who chairs the oversight panel, called her interview the most substantive and productive one the committee has conducted so far. He emphasized that the committee is not a law enforcement entity and cannot determine guilt or innocence, but said the allegations warranted a referral to the DOJ.
Comer says Kellen’s interview has been the most substantive one in the Epstein investigation
“Kellen provided new information crucial to our investigation that is helping to bring transparency for the American people and accountability for survivors,” Comer said. The letter to Blanche noted that Levine’s name appears over 600 times in the Epstein files released by the DOJ earlier this year, including in direct correspondence with Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex-trafficking crimes. Lawmakers also alleged that Fekkai was a close friend of Epstein who played a role in his grooming schemes by routinely providing salon services to women at Epstein’s instruction. Fekkai’s representative told CNN that he never “took advantage” of Kellen and did not introduce her to Epstein.
The spokesperson called the allegations “astonishing” and said Fekkai never assaulted anyone or participated in any illegal behavior. “Mr. Fekkai was astonished to read of Ms. Kellen’s testimony,” the spokesperson said. “Mr. Fekkai never abused anyone. He never participated in any illegal behavior.” They added, “He knew nothing about Epstein’s repugnant depravity or trafficking. He did nothing wrong.”
Levine’s spokesperson said that nearly a quarter-century ago, Levine had a “brief intimate encounter with another consenting adult” and that any suggestion otherwise is untrue. Levine has previously stated that his only connection to Epstein was through his former friendship with Maxwell. In February, he said he met Epstein only a few times, never did business with him, never visited his island, and never flew on his aircraft. “I regret ever meeting him,” Levine said.
Kellen’s testimony paints a harrowing picture of her time working for Epstein
“He groomed me, sexually and psychologically abused me, controlled me, manipulated me, dominated me, and gaslit me until I could no longer tell which thoughts were mine and which were his,” she told lawmakers. She compared her experience to living with a permanent virtual reality headset, where Epstein’s influence distorted her sense of reality.
Kellen also addressed the public scrutiny she has faced since being named as one of four women listed as possible “co-conspirators” in Epstein’s 2007 plea deal. She denied any wrongdoing and described herself as a victim of Epstein’s abuse. “I was a literal indentured slave; in fact, she even referred to me as her slave and minion,” Kellen said, referring to Maxwell. “I had zero power or authority, I was there only to serve and to submit.”
The abuse Kellen described continued even while Epstein was serving a jail sentence in Florida for soliciting prostitution from underage girls. She recounted how he Skyped her from a computer in Palm Beach County Stockade and ordered her to undress for him on camera. “I will not catalogue every assault; it would take too much time, but I want this committee to know that the abuse happened on average on a weekly basis, and was at times violent,” she said.
Kellen’s testimony also raised questions about why she was never contacted by law enforcement during her time working for Epstein. The letter from Republican lawmakers noted that she was not interviewed or otherwise contacted by federal, state, local, or foreign law enforcement from the time she began working for Epstein in 2000 or 2001 until July 2019, when Epstein was charged with federal sex-trafficking offenses.
Her experience highlights the complex dynamics of Epstein’s operation
Kellen told lawmakers that she had no money, no family, no education, and no sense that she deserved better when she was working for him. “I had nowhere else to go,” she said. “This is why it is so important for people to be educated on how the grooming process works, how trauma bonds form. I can provide more information about how I was groomed, but I will not speak for or about other victims,” she added.
The congressional investigation into Epstein’s network has been ongoing, with lawmakers seeking to uncover the full extent of his influence and the failures of law enforcement to hold those involved accountable. Kellen’s testimony adds a new layer to the story, providing a firsthand account of the abuse she endured and the names of two more men allegedly connected to Epstein’s crimes.
The DOJ now faces pressure to investigate these allegations thoroughly, as survivors and lawmakers push for transparency and accountability. The case also underscores the challenges faced by victims of abuse, particularly when their abusers hold positions of power.
(Featured image: Victor Grigas)
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