if they publicly said the names the accused would be implicated in their deaths

What do you expect would happen then? Who would prosecute them? The government and justice system that already refused to do anything since the beginning? Trump who pretends that Epstein is actually just a hoax? Or do you think if someone came out and said Bill Clinton raped me people would actually rebel?

What will happen if alleged victims start accusing people publicly is that they will get sued into oblivion for defamation as there is no justice system that actually wants to investigate the matter. So there would be really no need to kill anyone just yet as the government is in possession of the evidence and keeps it under lock and key. And if there's actually a part of the justice system that tries to investigate it'll look like Belgium during the Dutroux case. Witnesses and investigators will commit suicide and die in accidents one after the other.

What the press conference did is at least keep the Epstein matter in public view for a little while longer.