The family of Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent accusers of Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking operations, has expressed shock at comments made by former President Donald Trump regarding Giuffre's involvement with Epstein. Trump referred to Giuffre as someone Epstein had "stolen" from him, which has drawn ire from Giuffre's family, prompting them to urge that Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former associate, remains incarcerated. Giuffre, who was known for alleging sexual exploitation by notable figures including Britain's Prince Andrew, tragically died by suicide this year.
Giuffre's family stated that it was upsetting to hear Trump highlight their sister's name in this context, particularly suggesting awareness of her being "stolen" from the Mar-a-Lago resort. The family urged for more accountability and answers from those involved, emphasizing that survivors of such abuses deserve justice. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, defended Trump’s remarks by noting that he had previously expelled Epstein from his club for inappropriate behavior towards female employees.
This incident coincides with ongoing developments in the Epstein case, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while facing serious criminal charges. Trump has distanced himself from Epstein, claiming he had no prior knowledge of Epstein's illegal activities and severed ties with him years prior. However, questions about Trump's past associations with Epstein persist.
Trump made his comments in response to a reporter’s inquiry, highlighting his issues with Epstein’s conduct rather than initiating discussions about Giuffre. The Giuffre family released their statement soon after the Justice Department interviewed Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence in Tallahassee, Florida. Maxwell's lawyers stated that she provided truthful testimony and is open to answering additional queries from Congress under certain conditions.
In a subsequent CNN interview, Giuffre's family vehemently opposed the characterizations made by Trump. Sky Roberts, Giuffre's brother, emphasized that their sister was not "stolen," but rather "preyed upon" at Trump's establishment. He criticized the objectification inherent in Trump's choice of wording, suggesting it fails to recognize the reality of the abuse that Giuffre endured. He also raised concerns about what Trump may have known about Epstein's actions during that time period.
Giuffre, initially approached by Maxwell in 2000, was hired as a masseuse for Epstein but claimed that she was coerced into sexual servitude for Epstein and his associates. She reported that she was flown around the world for sexual encounters with high-profile individuals, including Prince Andrew, when she was just 17 and 18 years old. While these men have strongly denied her allegations, they have also questioned Giuffre's credibility, which she acknowledged by admitting to altering certain details in her story.
Prince Andrew later settled a lawsuit with Giuffre in 2022 for an undisclosed sum, which included a "substantial donation" to her survivors’ organization. Giuffre, who spent years living in Australia, emerged as a public advocate for survivors of sex trafficking after becoming a significant figure in the events surrounding Epstein's demise.
In their statements, Giuffre's family highlighted the severe personal toll that her cooperation with authorities exacted on her, noting that she faced death threats and financial difficulties. Despite these challenges, Giuffre became a notable advocate for survivors, promoting awareness and change surrounding such heinous crimes.
