Juliette Bryant: Epstein files bring vindication and pain (Full Transcript)

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: Although it's been over 20 years since she was abused by Jeffrey Epstein, Juliette Bryant still remembers that period vividly, and a recent release of some three million files relating to the convicted paedophile has thrust her into the limelight once more.

[00:00:15] Speaker 2: I feel, I suppose, vindicated in one way, but in other ways I feel just shattered, because I was almost hoping that it wasn't going to all be true. And also, the deeper, it's even darker than what I realised, which has been very, very hard to deal with emotionally.

[00:00:34] Speaker 1: She's also critical of the Royal Family's response to the crisis, which has led to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor losing his title. He's denied any wrongdoing.

[00:00:43] Speaker 2: Well I think it's great that they've made a statement, finally, but the thing is, are they going to actually act on it? I'm willing to speak to them any time, you know, anywhere I can help, so they can contact me, the other victims they can contact. The thing is, I just hope they're not just saying this, I would like to see them actually taking action.

[00:01:00] Speaker 1: Ghislaine Maxwell is a character that was central to Jeffrey Epstein's operation. She recently made a deposition in the US, where she pleaded the fifth. What was your reaction when you saw that?

[00:01:11] Speaker 2: I think it's just ridiculous, you know, after they say that she's going to be giving a testimony and everyone's waiting, it's much like when they said they were going to release the files before, and then they give the testimony and it's just like they may as well have not even done it. Because if someone's going to plead the fifth, why are they even going to bother? Because everyone was waiting for the information, and so I just think they've wasted a lot of people's time, and I think it's really about time that she started speaking out, you know, for her own, you know, personal benefit, because I think anyone who was involved in this will be going to hell.

[00:01:40] Speaker 1: Juliette was just 20 years old when she met Jeffrey Epstein, and says she was abused by him from 2002 to 2004. She says she kept going back to him, because she feared for her life.

[00:01:52] Speaker 2: He was a mastermind criminal. He was highly manipulative, and for a 20-year-old meeting someone who was, he was 49 at the time, you know, I wasn't able to, you know, deal with the situation as many of the other young girls weren't. It was like being like a scared mouse around a snake, being around him. And, you know, he had a way of manipulating people and he also made me feel like it was my fault.

[00:02:13] Speaker 1: She hopes other victims will come forward, and that those mentioned in the files will testify before the US authorities. King Charles has expressed concern over the allegations against his brother, and says his thoughts remain with the victims. Mynia Jones, BBC News, Cape Town.