Virginia Giuffre's family expresses shock after Trump says Epstein "stole" her from Mar-a-Lago
Giuffre, who had accused Britain's Prince Andrew and other influential men of sexually exploiting her as a teenager trafficked by Epstein, has been a central figure in conspiracy theories tied to the case. She died by suicide this year.
"It was shocking to hear President Trump invoke our sister and say that he was aware that Virginia had been 'stolen' from Mar-a-Lago," the family's statement said.
Mr. Trump, responding to a reporter's question on Tuesday, said that he got upset with Epstein over his poaching of workers, including Giuffre, from his Palm Beach, Florida, club.
The statement from Giuffre's family is the latest development involving Epstein, who took his own life in a New York jail in 2019 while facing federal sex trafficking charges, and the Republican president, who was his one-time friend. Mr. Trump denied prior knowledge of Epstein's crimes and said he cut off their relationship years ago, but he still faces questions about the case.
Mr. Trump's comment "makes us ask if he was aware of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's criminal actions," the family's statement said. Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 on sex trafficking and other charges and is serving a 20-year sentence in Tallahassee, Florida, is the one "who targeted and preyed upon" then 16-year-old Giuffre in 2000, the family said.
"We and the public are asking for answers; survivors deserve this," it continued.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt noted the president was responding to a reporter's question and didn't bring up Giuffre himself.
"The fact remains that President Trump kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of his club for being a creep to his female employees," she said.
The family's statement comes shortly after the Justice Department interviewed Maxwell. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed Maxwell in a Florida courthouse, though details about what she said haven't become public.
Maxwell's lawyers have said she testified truthfully and answered questions "about 100 different people." They have said she's willing to answer more questions from Congress if she is granted immunity from future prosecution for her testimony and if lawmakers agree to satisfy other conditions.
A message seeking comment about the Giuffre family's statement was sent to Maxwell's attorney Thursday.
A Trump administration official said the president is not currently considering clemency action for Maxwell.
Giuffre said she was approached by Maxwell in 2000 and eventually was hired by her as a masseuse for Epstein. But the couple effectively made her a sexual servant, she said, pressuring her into gratifying not only Epstein but his friends and associates.
Giuffre called Maxwell "the mastermind" behind the alleged sex trafficking in an interview with CBS News' Gayle King in 2020.
"She is a monster. She's worse than Epstein. She did things even worse than Epstein did. She was vicious. She was evil. And she's a woman," Giuffre said.
Giuffre also told King that Maxwell could incriminate "very well-known" people.
Giufree previously said she was flown around the world for appointments with men including Prince Andrew while she was 17 and 18 years old. The men, including Andrew, denied it and assailed Giuffre's credibility. She acknowledged changing some key details of her account. The prince settled with Giuffre in 2022 for an undisclosed sum, agreeing to make a "substantial donation" to her survivors' organization.
The American-born Giuffre lived in Australia for years and became an advocate for sex trafficking survivors after emerging as a central figure in Epstein's prolonged downfall.
Her family's statement said she endured death threats and financial ruin over her cooperation with authorities against Epstein and Maxwell.
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