The Best People with Nicolle Wallace Best of the Best: Jess Michaels Survived Epstein. Now She’s Speaking Up
Nov 24, 2025
Jess Michaels, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse, shares her harrowing journey from aspiring dancer to advocate for survivors. She highlights the deep impact of trauma and the urgent need for accountability from leaders who have ignored warnings. Joined by attorney Jennifer Freeman, they discuss the legal landscape surrounding Epstein's case, the necessity of releasing government documents, and the importance of community among survivors. Together, they urge a cultural shift that reframes victimhood and holds perpetrators accountable.
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Trauma Can Silence Language Centers
- Jess explains trauma can injure brain regions that convert feelings into words, likening it to stroke-like damage in Broca's area.
- She describes intentionally rewiring her brain over years to reclaim language and process the injury.
Recruitment And Assault In Epstein's Penthouse
- Jess Michaels recounts meeting Jeffrey Epstein through a dancer friend and being recruited to give a trial massage at his penthouse in July 1991.
- The session included sexual jokes, nudity presented as normal, and escalated to rape that left her traumatized for decades.
Normalization Deepens Survivor Harm
- The birthday book cartoon triggered Jess because it normalized and celebrated sexual violence among Epstein's circle.
- She says institutional co-signing of such behavior compounds survivors' humiliation and prolongs trauma.
