Lisa Phillips Calls Out ‘Political Weaponization’ and Demands Full Epstein Files Release

Jeffrey Epstein survivor and advocates' rights champion Lisa Phillips, a former model who endured sexual abuse by the disgraced financier at age 21 in 2001, renewed her call for the full public release of Epstein's case files on November 17, 2025, ahead of a pivotal U.S. House vote expected this week on transparency legislation. Speaking to MS NOW and Sky News, Phillips, now in her mid-40s and based in Los Angeles, emphasised that "truth matters more" than political manoeuvring, condemning the "weaponisation" of the documents that have spotlighted former President Donald Trump's mentions while overshadowing systemic failures in Epstein's vast trafficking network. "We are getting stronger... as we rally together, we are gaining a greater understanding of what's really going on," she said, noting that recent disclosures of over 20,000 emails have emotionally validated survivors' long-silenced accounts.

Phillips, who first met Epstein through a modelling acquaintance in New York City and was groomed with promises of career advancement and introductions to elites—including an offer to "meet a prince"—detailed her ordeal in her 2025 podcast From Now On, where she interviews fellow survivors like U.S. gymnastics abuse victims to explore recovery themes. In a heartfelt open letter to lawmakers co-signed by dozens of Epstein accusers, she implored Congress to envision their own family members as victims: "As you gather with your family this season... imagine if they had been preyed upon... When you vote, we will remember your decision at the ballot box." The missive, reported by Axios, underscores the survivors' growing unity, including plans discussed at a September 2025 Capitol Hill press conference to confidentially compile a list of Epstein's associates implicated in the abuses.

A key figure among the "Survivor Sisters"—a network of over 100 women Epstein victimised across states and his private island—Phillips has transitioned from suppressed trauma to fierce advocacy, crediting therapy like EMDR and peer support for her empowerment. She confronted Epstein shortly after her assault, severing ties and relocating to Los Angeles, but only began speaking publicly after his 2019 jailhouse death, which she says lifted his lingering psychological hold. In interviews with The Guardian and The Shade Room, Phillips described Epstein's modus operandi: luring young women with massages that escalated to abuse involving objects, all while cultivating a facade of mentorship in elite circles. "Jeffrey wasn’t doing this for himself," she told NBC, hinting at a web of enablers who facilitated the operation for years.

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The partial file releases, including a September 2025 Department of Justice dump, have brought incremental closure but fallen short of full disclosure, Phillips argued, with much redacted material still shielding powerful names beyond Trump. She acknowledged the gradual pace—"They’re releasing a little bit by little bit... it’s going to take time"—but warned that distractions from high-profile figures like Trump dilute accountability for "many others" in the network, including Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's convicted accomplice now serving 20 years. Phillips expressed outrage over reports of Maxwell receiving a "puppy" in prison as a comfort measure, calling it "preferential treatment" that stings survivors: "As a dog lover... I’m kind of furious that she has an animal to make her feel better."

Phillips' activism extends to broader women's rights in entertainment, where she mentors aspiring models on spotting grooming tactics, drawing from her dual experience as a victim and "championed" talent under Epstein's influence. Her Capitol Hill appearance, flanked by survivors like Chauntae Davies and lawyers, marked a historic show of solidarity, humanising the statistics—hundreds of underage girls trafficked—and pressuring institutions to act. As the House vote looms, potentially unlocking unredacted records under proposed reforms, Phillips remains resolute: "There still is a lot to uncover... the survivors are the centre, not Trump."

The Epstein saga, six years after his death, continues to expose fractures in justice systems that shielded predators, with Phillips' voice amplifying calls for comprehensive probes into co-conspirators. Her journey—from isolated shame to podcast host and policy influencer—embodies resilience, inspiring a new generation of survivors to demand not just files but systemic reform to prevent future networks from thriving in plain sight.

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