Virginia Giuffre, heart, holds a information convention outdoors a Manhattan court docket in New York, Aug. 27, 2019.
Bebeto Matthews/AP
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Bebeto Matthews/AP
The household of Virginia Giuffre, who was amongst Jeffrey Epstein’s most well-known intercourse trafficking accusers, stated that it was stunning to listen to President Donald Trump say the disgraced financier “stole” Giuffre from him and urged that Epstein’s former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, stay in jail.
Giuffre, who had accused Britain’s Prince Andrew and different influential males of sexually exploiting her as a youngster trafficked by Epstein, has been a central determine in conspiracy theories tied to the case. She died by suicide this 12 months.
Her household’s assertion is the most recent growth involving Epstein, who took his personal life in a New York jail in 2019 whereas dealing with federal intercourse trafficking costs, and the Republican president, who was his one-time pal. Trump denied prior data of Epstein’s crimes and stated he minimize off their relationship years in the past, however he nonetheless faces questions in regards to the case.
Trump, responding to a reporter’s query on Tuesday, stated that he acquired upset with Epstein over his poaching of employees and that Epstein had stolen Giuffre from his Palm Seaside, Florida, membership.
“It was stunning to listen to President Trump invoke our sister and say that he was conscious that Virginia had been ‘stolen’ from Mar-a-Lago,” the household’s assertion stated.
“We and the general public are asking for solutions; survivors deserve this,” it continued.
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt famous the president was responding to a reporter’s query and did not carry up Giuffre himself.
“The actual fact stays that President Trump kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of his membership for being a creep to his feminine staff,” she stated.
The household’s assertion comes shortly after the Justice Division interviewed Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 on intercourse trafficking and different costs and is serving a 20-year sentence in Tallahassee, Florida. Deputy Legal professional Basic Todd Blanche interviewed Maxwell in a Florida courthouse, although particulars about what she stated have not turn out to be public.
Maxwell’s attorneys have stated she testified honestly and answered questions “about 100 totally different individuals.” They’ve stated she’s prepared to reply extra questions from Congress if she is granted immunity from future prosecution for her testimony and if lawmakers conform to fulfill different circumstances.
A message looking for remark in regards to the Giuffre household’s assertion was despatched to Maxwell’s lawyer on Thursday.
In a CNN interview Thursday night, Giuffre’s household additionally spoke out.
“She wasn’t stolen, she was preyed upon at his property, at President Trump’s property … stolen appears very impersonal. It feels very very like an object, and the survivors should not objects, ladies should not objects,” stated Sky Roberts, Giuffre’s brother. “She was preyed upon, and it definitely makes you type of ask the query, you already know, how a lot he knew throughout that point?”
A Trump administration official stated the president is just not at the moment contemplating clemency motion for Maxwell.
Giuffre stated she was approached by Maxwell in 2000 and ultimately was employed by her as a masseuse for Epstein. However the couple successfully made her a sexual servant, she stated, pressuring her into gratifying not solely Epstein however his mates and associates.
Giuffre stated she was flown world wide for appointments with males together with Prince Andrew whereas she was 17 and 18 years previous.
The boys, together with Andrew, denied it and assailed Giuffre’s credibility. She acknowledged altering some key particulars of her account.
The prince settled with Giuffre in 2022 for an undisclosed sum, agreeing to make a “substantial donation” to her survivors’ group.
The American-born Giuffre lived in Australia for years and have become an advocate for intercourse trafficking survivors after rising as a central determine in Epstein’s extended downfall.
Her household’s assertion stated she endured loss of life threats and monetary damage over her cooperation with authorities in opposition to Epstein and Maxwell.
