More than a dozen survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse have accused Melania Trump of “shifting the burden” onto victims after the first lady called on Congress to hold public hearings with people who survived Epstein’s abuse.
The criticism came in a statement from a group of 13 survivors, along with the brother and sister of the late Virginia Giuffre, who was among Epstein’s most outspoken accusers. The group said survivors had already done enough by speaking publicly, filing reports and giving testimony.
“Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward, filing reports, and giving testimony,” the statement said. “Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility not justice.”
The survivors’ response followed Melania Trump’s call for Congress to convene public hearings with victims of Epstein’s abuse. In their statement, they argued that placing the focus on survivors to participate again risks moving attention away from accountability and onto those who were harmed.
Virginia Giuffre was one of the most prominent voices among Epstein’s accusers before her death, and her brother and sister joined the statement alongside the 13 survivors who signed it.
The dispute adds to the continuing fallout over Epstein’s abuse and the public response to those who were victimized. The survivors’ message was framed as a rejection of any suggestion that they should be asked to carry further responsibility in order for the matter to be addressed.
They said the burden of action should not fall on victims who have already spoken out. Instead, their statement cast the proposed hearings as a matter that should be handled by public institutions and decision-makers without requiring additional demands on survivors.
