By Peter John
Joanna Harrison never wanted to talk about the abuse she suffered from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Like many survivors, she said the experience left her feeling ashamed and embarrassed.
But after her name was accidentally made public when the US government released millions of files, she felt she had no choice but to speak out.
“It reached a point where I felt like I couldn’t breathe anymore. Speaking out is my way of finding relief,” Harrison told BBC Newsnight’s Victoria Derbyshire.
BBC Newsnight brought Harrison together with four other Epstein survivors for the first time.
During their meeting, they supported each other, and there were emotional moments as they looked at old photos from the time they first met Epstein. Some of them cried.
In the interview, the survivors shared stories of pain, anger, and loss.
Some spoke about visiting Epstein’s private island, while others talked about uncomfortable experiences at his ranch in New Mexico.
They also said they believe that some powerful people connected to Epstein may have known what was happening.
