Years later, a new testimony emerged in the Jeffrey Epstein file.
Julia Molchanova, who is 37 years old today, said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that she met Epstein in 2011 and stayed in his circle for years.
Molchanova claimed that Epstein influenced her with promises of education and career, and then began to control many areas of her life.
According to Molchanova, her first encounter with Epstein took place in New York in December 2011.
Molchanova, who was 22 years old at the time, studied design in Russia and spoke limited English, was aiming to make a career in the fashion industry.
Stating that Epstein told her that he could help her study at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Molchanova later described this promise as a "trap".
Molchanova explained that after returning to Russia, she started preparing for fashion education, and that the fees for some courses were paid by Epstein.
Stating that in January 2012, Epstein invited her to New York again and said he would show her the university, Molchanova stated that she was placed in an apartment under the control of Epstein.
Molchanova claimed that the first sexual abuse took place during this period.
According to his account, when he expressed his discomfort, Epstein tried to portray what was happening as part of “American culture.”
Molchanova said that over time, Epstein gained more and more control over the lives of the women around him.
Stating that she began to be referred to as Epstein's "assistant", Molchanova explained that her promises of education and a fashion career did not come true.
Molchanova, who described the environment she lived in as "cult-like", claimed that Epstein constantly asked women to appear happy and grateful, and also pressured them to bring new women into his circle.
According to Molchanova's claim, over time, Epstein's control extended from her clothes to the length of her hair, from her expenses to the people she met.
Claiming that she was sometimes isolated in a room for days, Molchanova said that Epstein also made her financially dependent.
Molchanova explained that she usually receives a monthly payment of less than 3 thousand dollars and that this amount varies.
It was stated that a company called JSC Interiors was established in 2014 in the name of Molchanova.
Molchanova claimed that Epstein offered her this company as a career opportunity in the field of design, but later she realized that financial transactions were being made through the company without her knowledge.
Stating that she did some design work for the company, but did not have real control of the business, Molchanova said that years later, she encountered credit cards opened in her name and expenses that she did not recognize.
He explained the situation with the following words: "You think you own something, but actually nothing is yours."
Molchanova said that the process of completely breaking away from Epstein's circle began in 2019.
Stating that when she checked her credit history, she noticed cards and transactions that she did not recognize, Molchanova suspected that her name was used in financial transactions much more widely than she thought.
He said that he sent a message to Epstein on April 4, 2019, expressing that he was disturbed by what happened and that he "wanted to return to his normal life."
Molchanova, who said that Epstein invited her to Palm Beach but did not go, stated that she was now seriously worried about her safety.
Epstein was arrested on July 6, 2019. More than a month later, on August 10, he was found dead in his prison cell in New York.
Molchanova's statements are also linked to a large class-action lawsuit filed against Bank of America.
It turned out that the lead plaintiff, who initiated the lawsuit and is known to the public under the pseudonym "Jane Doe" to this day, is Molchanova.
The lawsuit alleged that Bank of America ignored suspicious financial transactions linked to Epstein and was therefore responsible for the damages suffered by the victims.
The bank rejected allegations that Epstein facilitated sexual abuse and human trafficking crimes and did not admit any guilt.
A federal court in New York gave final approval to a $72.5 million class-action settlement between Bank of America and Epstein victims in late August.
The fund created as part of the settlement will be distributed to eligible victims, according to court records. Despite the agreement, the bank did not accept the accusations against it.
Molchanova said that the litigation took a heavy personal toll on her and that she was forced to share extremely private information.
Despite this, she said she hopes that speaking out publicly will help other women with similar experiences make their voices heard.
Molchanova said, "He should have been in prison. It was the system that failed us." Today, she is trying to establish her own fashion brand and says that she wants to support crime victims based on her experiences.
