One of the women who suffered abuse at the hands of notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has broken her silence following First Lady Melania Trump’s shock address last week.
At a time when the Epstein saga had taken a backseat in the news cycle (helped in no small part to the joint US and Israel attacks on Iran) Melania boldly, and somewhat surprisingly chose to make an address to the public last Thursday, April 9.
In her statement, the FLOTUS strongly rejected claims that have linked her to Epstein, describing the allegations as politically driven attacks.
She added that she had not been a victim of Epstein and maintained that she only briefly “crossed paths” with him in 2000, stating: “I have never had any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims. I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant.”
People in the US were, by and large, left bemused by Melania’s address, particularly since there have been no new revelations or reports linking her to Epstein. Naturally, speculation immediately came to the fore suggesting that Melania might potentially be trying to get out in front of a story that has not yet reached the public sphere. At the time of writing, there has been little to clarify the overall picture.
In the wake of Melania’s statement, a number of Jeffrey Epstein survivors (that is to say women who endured abuse at the hands of the disgraced financier and his associates) offered their thoughts, issuing a joint letter pushing back on Melania’s remarks, saying they felt the proposal effectively shifted responsibility onto victims who have already come forward.
Meanwhile, Lisa Phillips, just 21 when she was assaulted by Epstein during a trip to his infamous island, stated her belief that Melania must have had a reason for stressing that she “never had a relationship” with the late pedophile.
Speaking to Sky News, Phillips said: “We probably won’t find that out for a couple more days or weeks, but I’m sure there’s a reason why.
“I think everyone takes their time. I think everyone has a boiling point. There’s a lot that has happened in the last nine months.”
Speaking in the Grand Foyer of the White House last week, Melania acknowledged that she was aware of “false smears” against her in relation to Epstein.
“I am not Epstein’s victim, Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998,” Melania said.
“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” she said.
Lily Phillips offered her thoughts on Melania’s public call for the Epstein survivors to have a hearing.
“I would say I call her bluff, and be like, ‘OK, show us what you can do?'” Phillips said, adding that getting in touch with Epstein’s victims should be the first step.
“Wouldn’t that be the next step for her? Why would you make a statement like that and then not do anything?
“How can you make a statement like that without first saying: ‘OK, I’m here for you. Have the survivors reach out.'”
What did you make of Melania’s statement regarding Jeffrey Epstein? Let us know in the comments.
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