Survivors of Epstein’s abuse accuse Melania Trump of ‘shifting burden’ onto victims
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- Over a dozen survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse criticized Melania Trump for "shifting the burden" onto victims after she called for Congressional hearings with Epstein survivors, accusing her of deflecting responsibility.
- Melania Trump denied any relationship with Epstein or his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, stating she was not a victim and had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, while urging Congress to hold public hearings and take sworn testimony from survivors.
- Survivors argued that the Trump administration and Department of Justice have failed to fully comply with transparency laws and have protected enablers, calling for accountability rather than further demands on survivors.
- Some survivors expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of Congressional hearings, fearing re-traumatization and questioning whether these hearings would lead to meaningful action or justice.
- Epstein survivors, including Lisa Phillips, urged Melania Trump to engage directly with them and take concrete steps toward justice and accountability rather than making statements alone.
