Virginia Giuffre’s household expresses shock over Trump saying Epstein ‘stole’ her : NPR

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Bebeto Matthews/AP The household of Virginia Giuffre, who was amongst Jeffrey Epstein's most well-known intercourse trafficking accusers, mentioned 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 teen trafficked by Epstein, has been a central determine in conspiracy theories tied to the case. She died by suicide this yr.

Her household's assertion is the newest growth involving Epstein, who took his personal life in a New York jail in 2019 whereas going through federal intercourse trafficking fees, and the Republican president, who was his one-time good friend. Trump denied prior information of Epstein's crimes and mentioned he lower off their relationship years in the past, however he nonetheless faces questions concerning the case.

Trump, responding to a reporter's query on Tuesday, mentioned that he obtained upset with Epstein over his poaching of employees and that Epstein had stolen Giuffre from his Palm Seashore, 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 mentioned.

"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 workers," she mentioned.

The household's assertion comes shortly after the Justice Division interviewed Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 on intercourse trafficking and different fees 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 mentioned have not develop into public.

Maxwell's legal professionals have mentioned she testified in truth and answered questions "about 100 totally different individuals." They've mentioned she's keen to reply extra questions from Congress if she is granted immunity from future prosecution for her testimony and if lawmakers conform to fulfill different situations.

A message searching for remark concerning the Giuffre household's assertion was despatched to Maxwell's legal professional 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 similar to an object, and the survivors usually are not objects, ladies usually are not objects," mentioned Sky Roberts, Giuffre's brother. "She was preyed upon, and it definitely makes you type of ask the query, you understand, how a lot he knew throughout that point?"

A Trump administration official mentioned the president just isn't presently contemplating clemency motion for Maxwell.

Giuffre mentioned she was approached by Maxwell in 2000 and finally was employed by her as a masseuse for Epstein. However the couple successfully made her a sexual servant, she mentioned, pressuring her into gratifying not solely Epstein however his buddies and associates.

Giuffre mentioned she was flown around the globe 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.