Overview
- The Times published an anonymized account from a woman identified as “Natalie” alleging Epstein directed her in 1997 to meet Al Fayed on a yacht in Saint-Tropez, where she says she was sexually abused.
- Natalie says Epstein controlled her movements for years with modeling promises and instructed her by pager to see a “very influential” man, whom she later recognized as Al Fayed.
- Reporting cites records of a 2006 payment from Epstein to Harrods Aviation and repeated use of Harrods‑operated VIP terminals by Epstein’s private jets, suggesting logistical overlap.
- Al Fayed’s name does not appear in the Epstein document troves released to date, which reporters note may reflect Epstein’s reliance on pagers and phone calls before 2006.
- Police say more than 400 women have reported rape or sexual assaults allegedly linked to Al Fayed, and investigations continue with no legal finding establishing an operational link between his network and Epstein.