^{Virginia Giuffre, an alleged victim of Jeffrey Epstein, walks after the hearing in the criminal case against Epstein, at Federal Court in New York, August 27, 2019. | Shannon Stapleton | Reuters}

Trump Accuses Epstein of Recruiting Giuffre from Mar-a-Lago, Defends Actions in Epstein-Related Allegations

During a press exchange aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump reignited controversy surrounding his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, alleging that the disgraced financier “stole” Virginia Giuffre from her position at the spa of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida during the early 2000s.

“People were taken out of the spa, hired by [Epstein],” Trump stated. “He stole her.”

Trump’s remarks come amid rising scrutiny of his past connection to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, both convicted of crimes related to underage sex trafficking.

Giuffre’s Connection and Maxwell’s Congressional Tensions

Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, had previously alleged she was sexually abused by Epstein and trafficked to powerful men, though she never accused Trump of personal wrongdoing. According to Giuffre, she was initially recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell—Epstein’s long-time associate—while working at the Mar-a-Lago spa.

Trump emphasized Giuffre never made complaints about him or his properties, saying:

“She had no complaints about us, as you know, none whatsoever.”

Meanwhile, Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, remains in the political spotlight. Her legal team recently informed the House Oversight Committee that she would not testify under subpoena unless granted immunity, provided the questions in advance, and allowed to appear after her Supreme Court appeal is resolved.

“The Oversight Committee will not consider granting congressional immunity,” a spokesperson confirmed, effectively rejecting her request.

Maxwell has already spoken to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche for hours in a DOJ-arranged interview under limited immunity, reportedly providing information about other potential abusers connected to Epstein.

Congress Seeks Legislative Reforms Amid Epstein Backlash

Amid ongoing backlash over the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein case, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) issued a letter to Maxwell last week requesting her cooperation.

“The Committee seeks your testimony to inform legislative efforts aimed at improving federal enforcement of sex trafficking laws,” Comer wrote.

The request comes as pressure mounts on federal agencies to release more documentation and records tied to Epstein’s alleged network of abuse and cover-ups.

Trump’s $10 Billion Lawsuit Against Murdoch Moves Forward

In parallel, Trump addressed his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch, News Corp, Dow Jones & Co., and Wall Street Journal reporters, related to a story linking him to Epstein through a supposed letter Trump allegedly wrote to Epstein in 2003.

“They want to settle,” Trump said of the defendants. “They are talking to us about doing something.”

Trump denies ever sending the “bawdy” letter referenced in the article and contends the Wall Street Journal story damaged his reputation.

On Monday, Trump’s legal team asked a judge to compel Rupert Murdoch, now 94 years old, to sit for a deposition within 15 days, citing concerns over his health and availability for future trial proceedings.

“These factors weigh heavily in determining that Murdoch would be unavailable for in-person testimony at trial,” the motion stated.

When asked about Murdoch’s role, Trump said,

“I would have assumed that Rupert Murdoch controls [the Journal], but maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t.”

Final Thoughts

As congressional and legal investigations deepen into the Epstein-Maxwell network, Trump continues to distance himself from the scandal, asserting that he severed ties with Epstein due to inappropriate behavior involving his employees. Meanwhile, his defamation suit against media mogul Rupert Murdoch adds another layer of legal complexity to an already politically charged narrative.

With multiple lawsuits, pending depositions, and congressional hearings in motion, the fallout from Epstein’s crimes and their ripple effects across media, politics, and business continue to unravel.