Former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine faces serious allegations of sexual assault from Sarah Kellen, who served as Jeffrey Epstein's personal assistant for many years, according to a report published by The Miami Herald.
The allegations emerged during Kellen's testimony before the House Oversight Committee, where she also accused fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier and hairstylist Frédéric Fekkai of sexual assault. The Miami Herald cited multiple anonymous sources who were present during the committee hearing.
According to the report, Kellen did not provide detailed accounts of the alleged sexual assaults during her testimony. While she was not sworn in, federal law makes it a crime to lie to Congress regardless of oath status, underscoring the legal weight of her statements.
Representative James Comer, Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, characterized Kellen as "a very good, sincere and helpful witness" during a break in testimony Thursday. The characterization suggests committee leadership found her testimony credible and substantive.
During her testimony, Kellen reportedly described a climate of fear and intimidation while working for Epstein. She told Congress that Epstein made it clear to her that defiance would result in her death, and claimed he demonstrated he was more powerful than anyone else in the world. Kellen allegedly mentioned encounters with numerous high-profile figures during her travels with Epstein, including Fidel Castro, Princess Beatrice, Bill Clinton, and Ehud Barak.
In a statement that speaks to the manipulation victims faced, Kellen said, "Jeffrey was able to fool and manipulate the brightest minds in the world. Us victims didn't stand a chance."
The accusations against Levine carry particular significance given his previous denials of any relationship with Epstein. However, emails that have surfaced in recent years appear to show multiple communications between the two men, contradicting those denials.
Demarchelier died in 2022. Attempts to reach Levine and Fekkai for comment have not yet received responses.
The testimony represents a significant development in the ongoing examination of Epstein's network and the alleged crimes committed within his circle of associates. As a former mayor of one of South Florida's most prominent cities, the allegations against Levine raise questions about the extent of Epstein's connections to local political figures.
The House Oversight Committee's investigation continues as lawmakers seek to understand the full scope of Epstein's activities and the involvement of those in his orbit.
