When a group of Jeffrey Epstein survivors spoke out last month on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, a speech by one of them seemed to grab the headlines with her announcement that they could compile their own list of the late sex offender's clients if the government would not release their names.
Lisa Phillips, who says she endured years of abuse by Epstein and others in his sex trafficking network, ended her brief remarks Sept. 3 with an announcement that capped off a dramatic afternoon, as Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) pushed for the release of the investigation records, reported CNN.
“Us Epstein survivors have been discussing creating our own list," Phillips said to cheers. "We know the names. Many of us were abused by them. Now, together as survivors, we will confidentially compile the names we all know who were regularly in the Epstein world, and it will be done by survivors and for survivors. No one else is involved. Stay tuned for more details.”
However, a month later there seems to be no coordinated effort to compile such a list, and several survivors and lawyers involved with the case say that the undertaking would put Epstein's victims in greater danger by publicly accusing his powerful friends and accomplices.
“Be careful," said Spencer Kuvin, a Florida-based lawyer who has represented dozens of Epstein victims. “Because these men that they may name have a lot of money and resources behind them to be able to potentially litigate against them and sue them and cause all kinds of problems and issues."
"This should not be something that the victims have to do," Kuvin added. "This should be something that the federal government does because it’s right and because it stands for justice for these victims.”
Another Epstein survivor, Liz Stein, told CNN that she doesn't believe Phillips intended harm or mislead anyone with her announcement, but she worries about the additional pressure placed on victims already in a “precarious” position.
“We’re seeing a lot of pressure put on to us directly for things like, for us to release names, and for us to expose these people. But I don’t think that anyone understands the risks to us in doing that,” Stein said. “We’re being asked by every journalist about that question. It is not our job.”
Jennifer Freeman, another lawyer who has represented victims of Epstein's co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell said she was not aware of anyone compiling a list of their clients, but she said such an effort would be “dangerous.”
“It puts them at risk and puts the burden of action on them, when it should be the government and institutions that are sworn to protect us,” Freeman said.
Phillips explained to CNN that her message at the news conference was intended to be a show of support to other survivors, but she agreed that compiling a list put them at risk.
“Survivors making a list, and just putting a list out there, which is read by us, is very dangerous,” Phillips said.
Attorney Brad Edwards, who has represented numerous Epstein victims, told reporters at the Capitol event that some attorneys had in the past “created somewhat of a list," but he did not respond to a request for additional comment, and Phillips said she's trying to figure out what to do next.
“What is the right way to go about it? The legal way? The most protective way for all of us?” Phillips said.