Sarah Kellen, Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime assistant, testified in a closed-door session of the House Oversight Committee and accused three men—celebrity hairstylist Frederic Fekkai, former Miami Beach mayor Philip Levine and fashion photographer Patrick Demarch
When Sarah Kellen sat down with investigators behind closed doors this week, she did not just speak about Jeffrey Epstein. She named three men—and accused each of sexual wrongdoing.
Kellen. Epstein’s longtime assistant. testified before the House Oversight Committee on Thursday and accused the men of wrongdoing. House Oversight Chair James Comer said. In her interview. Kellen identified Frederic Fekkai. Philip Levine and Patrick Demarchelier by name. according to sources familiar with the matter.
Kellen’s allegations point in different directions. She accused both Fekkai and Levine of sexually assaulting her. and testified that Demarchelier exposed himself to her. one source said. Another source said Kellen asserted that Fekkai assaulted her in the early 2000s—before she met Epstein—when the two were alone together in a hotel room during a trip to Hawaii to meet with modeling agents.
A media representative for Fekkai disputed Kellen’s account. Mark Herr, speaking on behalf of Fekkai, said in a statement that “Mr. Fekkai was astonished to read of Ms. Kellen’s testimony. Mr. Fekkai never abused anyone. He never participated in any illegal behavior. He knew nothing about Epstein’s repugnant depravity or trafficking. He did nothing wrong.” Herr also denied the specific allegation of assault, saying: “That is categorically false. Mr. Fekkai never assaulted anyone.”.
Levine has also tried to frame his relationship to Epstein as limited. Kellen told committee investigators that Levine assaulted her in St. Tropez at a home being rented by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in the early 2000s. a source familiar with the matter said. Earlier this year, Levine told WLRN in a statement that he met Epstein “a few times” and regretted it. “As I have stated previously, my only connection to Jeffrey Epstein arose solely through my former friendship with Ghislaine Maxwell. I met Epstein only a few times. I never conducted business with him, never visited his island and never flew on his aircraft. I regret ever meeting him,” Levine said at the time.
Kellen also testified that Demarchelier introduced her to Epstein, described by the source as a scout for possible Victoria’s Secret models. Demarchelier died in 2022.
For lawmakers. the moment that matters is not only what Kellen said. but that they say they now have names to pursue. Comer said the committee had not previously known of allegations of sexual abuse against the men and declined. on Thursday. to name them himself while promising his committee would release a transcript of Kellen’s interview “as soon as possible.” Comer also said the accusations would provide investigators “a new lead to chase down.”.
“No charges” has been the common refrain in this case. None of the men have been charged with a crime in connection with Epstein, and Comer said the committee had not previously known of the allegations against them.
The testimony lands in a wider record that includes close ties between Epstein and at least two of the named men. A review of Epstein files released by the Department of Justice showed that Levine and Fekkai had ties to the late convicted sex offender dating back years. The files reviewed by CNN do not appear to reveal any direct interaction between Demarchelier and Epstein. And there is no indication in the publicly available Epstein files reviewed by CNN that any of the three men had been interviewed by federal investigators.
The files also describe how Epstein used Fekkai as more than just a stylist. Over many years. Epstein spent thousands of dollars at the famed Frederic Fekkai salon for himself and others. according to invoices and credit card statements released by the Justice Department. But according to the DOJ’s Epstein files, Epstein’s relationship with Fekkai appeared to extend beyond a professional arrangement.
At least four times, Fekkai reportedly asked to use one of Epstein’s apartments, emails from the files show. In 2010, Fekkai asked to use Epstein’s room for an appointment with his own masseuse, an email shows. Epstein agreed. but told a person whose name is redacted in the files to let Fekkai know that Epstein would be home. That same year. Epstein boasted to a redacted person that he had known Fekkai for 10 years and “helped his company form.”.
In 2013. Epstein asked Fekkai for help finding a multi-lingual assistant. and Fekkai responded he would check his rolodex. an email shows. That year. Fekkai wrote Epstein about a female coming to one of his salons. and a representative of Epstein wrote to invite Fekkai over for cake for Epstein’s birthday. Maxwell, in an interview last year with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, said Epstein and Fekkai were “friendly, very friendly.”.
Levine’s connections also show up across years in the Justice Department files. Epstein and Levine were in contact through the early 2000s. with plans to talk on the phone and meet in person multiple times throughout the years. though it is not clear in the files whether the meetings actually took place. In 2003. the files show Levine tried to arrange a business meeting for Epstein with the former managing director of the company overseeing Sephora. In 2010. the year after Epstein was released from jail in Florida after being convicted on state charges related to sex crimes. Levine wrote to Epstein. “I am happy that everything has come to a positive ending for you during these tough times… You are a great guy.”.
Levine ran successfully for mayor of Miami Beach in 2013 and unsuccessfully to be governor of the state in 2018. Epstein’s inbox includes campaign emails from Levine. In 2013. Epstein responded to a generic campaign email asking how he could donate. and someone responded from the “Levine for Mayor” account directing the financier to use their website.
The files also depict Levine and Maxwell communicating. Levine asked Maxwell in one email to “scout” at a party she was attending in 2001. In 2003, Levine told her that he had a “hot, young thing spending the weekend…call me,” another email shows. Maxwell told Blanche last year that Levine was the one who introduced her to former President Bill Clinton. referring to herself and Levine as “very good friends.”.
Maxwell and Levine’s exchanges in the files are also laced with sexual undertones, including emails where Maxwell referred to Levine as her boyfriend. In messages from 2001, Maxwell says she “unceremoniously dumped” Epstein for Levine.
Kellen’s own position in this story is complicated. She is a polarizing figure in Epstein’s orbit whose work with the disgraced financier provided her access to significant information on his activities. In 2007, she was labeled by law enforcement as one of Epstein’s potential co-conspirators. She has described herself as a victim of Epstein’s abuse. even as some observers acknowledge her experience is complicated. including if law enforcement did investigate her for possibly aiding Epstein. Comer said Kellen was not interviewed by law enforcement until 2019; her lawyer declined to comment.
In an opening statement copy. Kellen told lawmakers. “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 added: “It was like living with a permanent virtual reality headset on. I was reminded every day how powerful he was — how influential he was — and that to turn on him or disobey him would mean losing everything: my job. my home. everyone I knew in the world. even my life.”.
Comer said the interview was the most impactful moment so far for the committee’s work. “Of all the people that we’ve interviewed thus far, this was by far the most substantive and productive interview that we’ve had,” he told reporters Thursday.
Now the investigation’s attention is shifting—away from Epstein alone, and toward three names Kellen put on record. None have faced charges in connection with Epstein. But if the committee releases the transcript it promised. the allegations—and the questions they force—will move from private testimony to public scrutiny.
Jeffrey Epstein Sarah Kellen House Oversight Committee James Comer Frederic Fekkai Philip Levine Patrick Demarchelier Ghislaine Maxwell sexual abuse allegations