The family of Virginia Giuffre, known for accusing Jeffrey Epstein in the prominent sex trafficking case, expressed their shock upon hearing President Donald Trump claim that Epstein had “stolen” Giuffre from him, and they urged that Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend, remains imprisoned.
Giuffre, who accused Britain’s Prince Andrew and other powerful men of abusing her when she was trafficked by Epstein as a teenager, has been central to conspiracy narratives surrounding the scandal. This year, she tragically passed away by suicide.
The family’s statement marks a new chapter in the ongoing Epstein saga. Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while facing federal sex trafficking charges, had once been a friend to President Trump. Although Trump stated he severed ties with Epstein long ago, his knowledge of Epstein’s activities remains under scrutiny.
On Tuesday, Trump replied to a media inquiry by expressing frustration over Epstein recruiting his staff, alleging that Epstein had taken Giuffre from his Palm Beach, Florida club.
“Hearing President Trump mention our sister and admit awareness of Virginia being ‘stolen’ from Mar-a-Lago was startling,” the family’s statement noted.
“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.
This family statement was released following the Justice Department’s recent interview with Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for sex trafficking and related offenses, currently serving a 20-year sentence in Tallahassee, Florida. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche conducted the interview, though specifics of her comments remain undisclosed.
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 on Thursday.
In a CNN interview Thursday evening, Giuffre’s family also spoke out.
“She wasn’t stolen, she was preyed upon at his property, at President Trump’s property … stolen seems very impersonal. It feels very much like an object, and the survivors are not objects, women are not objects,” said Sky Roberts, Giuffre’s brother. “She was preyed upon, and it certainly makes you kind of ask the question, you know, how much he knew during that time?”
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 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.
