A group of survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has publicly pushed back against a recent statement from First Lady Melania Trump, arguing that her denial of any ties to him serves as a distraction from ongoing issues regarding the handling of the Epstein files, The Hill reported. This disagreement centers on the role of former Attorney General Pam Bondi and the access to documents that remain a point of contention for those seeking transparency.
The survivors released a formal response, which was signed by 15 individuals, including two people listed as Jane Doe. In their statement, the group emphasized that they have already demonstrated significant courage by coming forward with their testimonies and reports. They specifically expressed concern that the first lady is shifting the burden onto them under circumstances they describe as politicized.
According to the survivors, these conditions ultimately protect those in positions of power, including the Department of Justice, various prosecutors, and the Trump Administration. They further noted that the administration has yet to fully comply with the requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which is a law intended to shed light on these events.
The core of the survivors’ frustration is that the first lady’s recent comments divert attention away from Pam Bondi
The group stated that Bondi must be held accountable for the withholding of files and the potential exposure of identities belonging to survivors. This comes at a time when the Department of Justice has stated that Bondi will not comply with a subpoena to appear before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
The department argued in a letter to the committee chair, James Comer, that because Bondi is no longer in the administration, she cannot testify in an official capacity and is therefore no longer obligated to appear. Despite this, House Oversight Democrats and Representative Nancy Mace have called for holding the former attorney general in contempt for failing to follow the subpoena, which was originally scheduled for April 14.
The first lady addressed the situation during an appearance in the White House Grand Foyer. During her remarks, she rejected claims of any connection to Epstein, whom she labeled as disgraceful. She explicitly denied that she was ever a victim of the sex offender or that he played any role in introducing her to her husband.
Regarding her personal reputation, she stated that the lies linking her to Epstein need to end immediately. She described those spreading such rumors as being devoid of ethical standards and humility. She further noted that she does not object to the ignorance of those individuals, but rather rejects their attempts to defame her.
One specific point of public interest has been an email sent by Melania Trump to Ghislaine Maxwell in October 2002. The email was discovered within the massive cache of documents released by the Department of Justice under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
In the message, the first lady complimented Maxwell on an article about Epstein that appeared in New York Magazine, signing the note with the phrase Love, Melania. She characterized this communication as nothing more than casual correspondence, maintaining that she was never friends with Epstein and simply occupied similar social circles in New York and Palm Beach.
The broader political landscape surrounding these files remains tense. While the president signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law in November, he has largely sought to move past the topic, citing a long-standing falling out with the former businessman. However, legislative interest remains high.
Rep. Thomas Massie has previously stated that future attorneys general must comply with the law and release all files or risk prosecution. Meanwhile, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has indicated that the current administration considers its case on Epstein to be closed.
Published: Apr 10, 2026 04:45 pm