Melania Trump is facing backlash after making an unexpected statement denying any involvement with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The First Lady is now receiving criticism from a group of Epstein survivors over her remarks.
A group of Epstein survivors has criticized Melania Trump following her recent public remarks about her past connections to Jeffrey Epstein, accusing her of placing undue pressure on victims while calling for further congressional action.
In her statement, Melania rejected claims linking her to Epstein and described the allegations as politically driven attacks.
She said she had not been a victim of Epstein and maintained that she only briefly “crossed paths” with him in 2000, adding: “I have never had any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims”, and insisting, “I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant.”
She also urged lawmakers to allow survivors to testify publicly under oath before Congress.
Melania said: “Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes, and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the congressional record. Then, and only then, we will have the truth.”
But in response, more than a dozen Epstein survivors issued a joint letter pushing back on her remarks, saying they felt the proposal effectively shifted responsibility onto victims who have already come forward.
The group wrote that survivors had already shown “extraordinary courage” by sharing their experiences and participating in legal proceedings, adding that asking them to do more now amounts to “a deflection of responsibility, not justice.”
They also called for the full release of remaining Epstein-related files, arguing that accountability should fall on authorities rather than survivors.
“Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward, filing reports, and giving testimony. Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility, not justice,” the letter states.
“It also diverts attention from Pam Bondi, who must answer for withheld files and the exposure of survivors’ identities. Those failures continue to put lives at risk while shielding enablers,” it continues. “Survivors have done their part. Now it’s time for those in power to do theirs.”
The backlash highlights growing tension between public figures commenting on the Epstein case and survivors who say their voices are already being amplified at great personal cost.
