Republicans urge investigation into two men accused of abuse by Epstein assistant

Key Points:

• Republican lawmakers have requested the Department of Justice to investigate sexual assault allegations against French hairstylist Frédéric Fekkai and former Miami Beach mayor Philip Levine, made by Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime assistant, Sarah Kellen.
• In a closed-door interview, Kellen accused Epstein of sexually and psychologically abusing her and alleged separate sexual assaults by Fekkai and Levine in the early 2000s; both men have denied wrongdoing and have not been charged.
• The lawmakers highlighted that Levine’s name appears extensively in Epstein-related files, and accused Fekkai of playing a role in Epstein’s grooming schemes by providing salon services at Epstein’s direction.
• The oversight committee, chaired by James Comer, emphasized their role is not to determine guilt but to refer allegations for criminal investigation, seeking transparency and accountability for survivors.
• Kellen, who worked for Epstein for over a decade and has denied any involvement in his crimes, stated she was never contacted by authorities until Epstein’s 2019 federal charges, prompting lawmakers to question potential mismanagement in handling the case.