Two women who were victims of Jeffrey Epstein told CNN that he sent them to the New York salons of celebrity hairstylist Frédéric Fekkai and that their hairstyles had been decided in advance. The 19-year-old former victim, who is concealing her identity, said her hair was cut shorter and styled with curtain bangs against her wishes; another woman said that in Saint-Tropez, Epstein asked Fekkai how he could make her look younger. Seven women, five of them anonymous, sued Fekkai and his employee Patrick Coombs, alleging that they helped Epstein with sex trafficking; the plaintiffs did not make allegations of sexual assault. Fekkai denied the allegations. Justice Department records show that Epstein spent tens of thousands of dollars at the salons. The documents also revealed that Fekkai wanted to use the apartments and was being introduced to businesspeople. Sarah Kellen also accused Fekkai.
Why it matters
The lawsuit shows that people around Epstein may face legal liability not only over direct allegations of sexual assault, but also over relationships through which they allegedly directed victims and aided sex trafficking. In this respect, the case raises the question of how the contacts that hair salons and similar businesses have with customers may be scrutinized because of the connections behind them. The high spending recorded in Justice Department files, along with Fekkai’s efforts to become part of Epstein’s social circle, shows why the scope of the relationship between the parties is important in the lawsuit. However, the fact that the plaintiffs did not make allegations of sexual assault and that Fekkai denied the allegations leaves open the question of how the court will legally assess these contacts.