Virginia Giuffre is still an important clue to the mysteries of Jeffrey Epstein and Trump. Why are her parents not in the news more prominently? Before she died, did she reveal more to them? Who actually “owned her” first, Trump or Epstein or Maxwell? It seems that FOX would be all over the story. It just goes to show that the now adult survivors of Epstein and Trump know the story and either are not being asked or are not speaking out. The former “60 Minutes” would have covered it.
I don’t think that is “the story” or that her parents, wherever they may be want to be ‘the story.’ She came from a troubled home. Her parents were not together. In general this is common among victims. The lack of stability, history of acting out makes them more vulnerable to attention from traffickers and makes them less credible (especially to the public) which also benefits traffickers.
The attorney who represents many of the survivors recently said she was the 2nd of the 5 who testified to die. This speaks to the trauma that lives on from the abuse; reliving it and being attacked by those who were supposed to seek justice - including the FL state prosecutors and members of the grand jury during the grand jury testimony. Fox wants to help DJT so they don’t want to do it. Other media may respect the wishes of family members who want privacy.
Ah, I see siblings & sister-in-law of Virginia Giuffre are speaking out as a group. Of course their loved one can no longer be harmed. And Donnie’s administration upped the outrage quotient by moving Maxwell to an even lower security facility where prisoners have more privileges. (Usually only non-violent prisoners (for white collar crimes) are allowed to be moved there.
I understand the power of personal stories. Survivor storytelling is resource that gets the public’s attention. (A lot of that attention is not positive.) People are not drawn to facts. We like drama. Irony of irony it is in our faces now because qanon wouldn’t let go & launched a ton of conspiracy theories that DJT turned it into votes on promises he doesn’t want to keep.
The people I’d rather see squirm under the news media scrutiny are the ones who were responsible for not properly prosecuting the 1st case(s) in FL. Naturally they don’t want to talk about it. Except for the former Palm Beach police chief who was livid over the way the case was handled. (He’s mentioned here. He talked to NBC reported in 2019.) https://abc7.com/post/grand-jury-docs-2006-epstein-case-palm-beach-county-florida/15018104/
It’s grotesque; the whiny statement from DJT that Jeffrey Epstein “stole Virginia Giuffre from him” at Mar Largo in Florida. She was a victim of sexual assault and DJT is speaking like she was his property— not a young female employee procured by his “ friend.” It’s imperative we, the public, not lose sight of the assaults on ALL of Epstein’s young victims and not dismiss the despicable behavior by the perpetrator(s).
The underage girls who came forward to expose their assaults can become survivors with the help of the judicial system treating the crime of rape as a felony. Historically, female rape victims, especially, have been blamed and
belittled for their assaults for decades. We must not diminish the exploitation, physical & mental harm, or the stigma that sexual assault victims are left with — even when their pedophile perpetrators go to prison .
Being an advocate for victims is always needed. Raise your voice.
Horrifying as it is, I’m so grateful to you both that you keep the outrage and focus at the forefront!
The Epstein child rape and trafficking that survived for ten ? years and the funding in the billions to entertain the US and international debased contributors must cause unending outrage!
She is an investigative reporter who has been working with the victims for years trying to force law enforcement to investigate the victims charges and start arresting the Johns. At very least, releasing the information on the Johns so they can face public ridicule.
Some commenters seem to think that the Epstein case is distracting us from what they consider more important things. I suggest that it's closely related to most/all of those "more important things." What ties them all together is abuse of power by wealthy mostly white men (who, as usual, have confederates who are female and/or of color), and the fact that they target those who don't have the wherewithal to fight back.
This is not new. It didn't start with Trump. Pay attention to where toxic waste dumps are sited, whose neighborhoods get bulldozed for highways and commercial development, who has to wait six (eight, ten) hours in line to vote, etc.
Exactly right. But it is also how the trump regime rules. Picking off those who lack the resources to prevail, rely on the federal government or hounding others in ways that are difficult to fight off and suck up their resources. (Siccing ‘the mob’ on anyone who opposes him; phony investigations etc)
Right -- but it's not just the "Trump regime." That's my point. I turned 30 the year Reagan was inaugurated. This means I have adult memories of what came before it. The Reagan administration was totally about "picking off those who lack the resources to prevail." Remember its response to AIDS? Remember its gutting of unions? Remember the demonization of certain drugs but not others? In the '90s the Clinton administration continued this practice. Remember all the garbage about "welfare moms"?
If we make this all, or mostly, about Trump, we have totally lost the plot.
Yes, I remember all of that. But it has no meaning for many people who don’t. They can barely see what is in front of them. 53% of Americans don’t know why we declared our independence. Next presidential election we’ll have a whole lot of voters 30 and under. None of them will have adult memories of DJT’s 1st term or before. Very little sense of our history or its foundation. I fear much less interest as curriculums have changed and daily pressures mount.
Clinton was not my idea of a Democrat. He was affable and empathetic. He could carry southern states. Reagan was a movie star, affable and survived an assassination attempt. He got away with a lot (as did Nancy). More came out later re: Lee Atwater’s hand on the campaign rudder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_8E3ENrKrQ
I. So glad y’all are back. If you repeat a lie enough it’ll become a truth. Trump and friends repeat so much that the Epstein files are politically motivated that the core of the matter is getting blurry. I cringe when I hear about giving Maxwell immunity or a possible pardon. That means that it doesn’t matter how horrific the crime was. As long as you are willing to cover up the truth and get on the side of trump, continue lying (she committed perjury twice) and telling to whoever wants to hear that trump is innocent, you are going to be fine. The corruption is disgusting
In Trump's demented mind I truly believe his explanation of Epstein "stealng" his teenaged employees portrays him as a good guy. A mere victim of the thievery of his girls. We should all think for a moment how far we've fallen to have elected such a lowlife. In any event, isn't it possible Les Wexner may have some important knowledge about Epstein? I don't think anyone understands how or why Epstein, with no higher education or expertise, was allowed into that world of high finance. This rags to riches story doesn't ring true.
I agree. He must ways be the victim. OTOH, it is odd that he would remember a 14 yr old who worked in the locker room of the spa. Even he seemed to realize that in his bumbling around. He knew more about the case than he let on. Her father worked in maintenance at Mar a Lago.
About the time Epstein & trump said their friendship broke (not enough to kick him out of Mar a Lago) over real estate, Epstein partnered with Jean-Luc Brunel. He’s someone in the google machine too. They formed MC2, an international modeling agency focusing on very young girls. 2007, DJT booted him from Mar a Lago. His sweet plea deal was being drafted by the feds & he began expanding operations / his home in St. James.
There is nothing good to say about Brunel. He died by suicide in his cell while French law enforcement was investigating him in connection to the Maxwell/Epstein case, 2019.
I wish we wouldn’t follow mainstream media down the Epstein rabbit hole.It’s a distraction from how this administration destroying the country I love and making me ashamed to be an American.
This ICE project is akin to what happened to Japanese during WW2 but you have to go to THE GAURDIAN to read stories like this
The travesty to humanity-a rogue masked police force arresting people who are “illegal” only because of our screwed up immigration system,
that my country complicit in Gaza famine
Walked away from Ukraine
No longer investing in soft power to care for the world’s hungry and abandoned- a moral obligation of the richest country in the world
free speech trampled on and treated as a crime if you disagree with this administration and its definitions e.g.: having sympathy for Gaza is not antisemitism-most of those college protesters should never have been arrested.
Oh I could go on and on but let’s not let the current minutiae blind us to the harm being done. We should be asking ourselves:
Is this the America I care about? Am
I proud of how this administration cares for its people and the world?
Of course, I agree that there are other stories that have greater significance for our country and people. As I note in the conversation, the Epstein case has caused fractures in Trump MAGA and can undermine his heinous agenda, including ultimately effecting the outcome of elections (if we still have them).
To be fair, I believe you have addressed many of those issues.. that is not to say they shouldn’t be revisited or there are not emerging stories constantly. I don’t see any of that as a reason not to discuss a story that was pushed to the back burner. The Epstein case is emblematic of corruption in the justice system. Collaboration between state and federal, prosecutors, and who knows what other influences. Not unlike what we see today, it is documented in the agreement & in the released state of Florida grand jury transcript - released under a special FL law for that particular case. It is set out in statements by the retired Palm Beach chief of police, who took the case to the FBI when the state appeared to be colluding with Epstein’s defense. It’s always the victim of these crime, selected because they do not have the tools to fight back — They are the ones forgotten, minimized or vilified.
Ann Marie, Excellent Commentary to Steven's Article!! My thought from a different point of view. When I was younger my Father got me employed at the Company where he worked as a General Manager in the 1950's. The Company was owned by a Jewish fellow...my Dad worked for him for many years and knew him quite well. Apparently his family had lived in Germany before the War...and afterwards had completely vanished...it was thought in a Death Camp. After the War this fellow did whatever he could for survivors of that terrible time. Hiring many that he sponsored. I heard some unbelievable stories of the horrors of Naziism. Frankly reading about what's happening in America today was almost a repeat of what I remember hearing from these folks. I've forgotten most of what I heard from these survivors with one exception...when asked about the Tattoo on his inner arm...a fellow replied, "this is my way of "Never forgetting" my Family!"
Wow, what a riveting story and the truly scary part of what’s going on in front of our eyes. I just hope more attention will be focused on that. Conversely, don’t mean to downplay the horror of the Epstein scandal, just suggesting some balance.
It never entered my mind that you were "downplaying" any aspect of the tRump et al involved Atrocities. I think that each one of them strikes our sensitive spots differently...none being any less or more criminal or wrong than another. I think it's shameful how WOMEN are treated or, even considered in this country. I firmly believe that the 2024 Election was a perfect example of what I said! We got tRump because a seemingly capable Woman, who presented herself quite well, failed the Gender test!
I wish that the abuse of perhaps a thousand teens and young women was not considered minutiae. What they experienced and the trauma lives on in their minds and bodies. It deserves acknowledgment and they deserve justice.
From the beginning, they were not only denied a fair hearing but painted as criminals, child prostitutes, addicts, liars who deserved it. The police chief in Palm Beach after he retired, pointed out how he did all he could, but was sabotaged by the justice system of the state of Florida and federal prosecutors.
Two of the five witnesses have now died by suicide. The most recent was about 41 years old. All of this reflects a much deeper problem in our society.
A society that feels free to ignore injustices to some because we don’t think it affects us. The “rule of law” was not there for these young girls. Society as a whole decided to move on. They don’t really matter. Now we are ruled by a political class which has decided we don’t need justice and we don’t really matter.
Virginia Giuffre is still an important clue to the mysteries of Jeffrey Epstein and Trump. Why are her parents not in the news more prominently? Before she died, did she reveal more to them? Who actually “owned her” first, Trump or Epstein or Maxwell? It seems that FOX would be all over the story. It just goes to show that the now adult survivors of Epstein and Trump know the story and either are not being asked or are not speaking out. The former “60 Minutes” would have covered it.
I don’t think that is “the story” or that her parents, wherever they may be want to be ‘the story.’ She came from a troubled home. Her parents were not together. In general this is common among victims. The lack of stability, history of acting out makes them more vulnerable to attention from traffickers and makes them less credible (especially to the public) which also benefits traffickers.
The attorney who represents many of the survivors recently said she was the 2nd of the 5 who testified to die. This speaks to the trauma that lives on from the abuse; reliving it and being attacked by those who were supposed to seek justice - including the FL state prosecutors and members of the grand jury during the grand jury testimony. Fox wants to help DJT so they don’t want to do it. Other media may respect the wishes of family members who want privacy.
There are tons of documents in the public domain. I believe the money trail is one of the most important pieces of evidence. I’m sure it is hard to untangle it. Sen Wyden had staff working on it for 3 yrs. Staff reviewed Epstein flagged documents at the Treasury Dept. This administration ended the access. They found 4,700+ transactions; over $1.5B in wire transfers. But he’s still working. https://www.finance.senate.gov/ranking-members-news/continuing-epstein-investigation-wyden-probes-irss-failure-to-investigate-sex-traffickers-highly-lucrative-tax-planning-work
I agree with you, but it is a news source more than the lies of powerful men who exploit women and children.
Ah, I see siblings & sister-in-law of Virginia Giuffre are speaking out as a group. Of course their loved one can no longer be harmed. And Donnie’s administration upped the outrage quotient by moving Maxwell to an even lower security facility where prisoners have more privileges. (Usually only non-violent prisoners (for white collar crimes) are allowed to be moved there.
I understand the power of personal stories. Survivor storytelling is resource that gets the public’s attention. (A lot of that attention is not positive.) People are not drawn to facts. We like drama. Irony of irony it is in our faces now because qanon wouldn’t let go & launched a ton of conspiracy theories that DJT turned it into votes on promises he doesn’t want to keep.
The people I’d rather see squirm under the news media scrutiny are the ones who were responsible for not properly prosecuting the 1st case(s) in FL. Naturally they don’t want to talk about it. Except for the former Palm Beach police chief who was livid over the way the case was handled. (He’s mentioned here. He talked to NBC reported in 2019.) https://abc7.com/post/grand-jury-docs-2006-epstein-case-palm-beach-county-florida/15018104/
Alex Acosta recently landed on the board of NewsMax. Times must be tough: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/newsmax-epstein-alex-acosta-board-b2794143.html
I’ll confess my bias. Much of my work for over a decade was related to how to deal with & prevent abuse & public policy.
Speak to the girls/women and their families. Believe the females! For some reason their words are not as valued as male.
It’s grotesque; the whiny statement from DJT that Jeffrey Epstein “stole Virginia Giuffre from him” at Mar Largo in Florida. She was a victim of sexual assault and DJT is speaking like she was his property— not a young female employee procured by his “ friend.” It’s imperative we, the public, not lose sight of the assaults on ALL of Epstein’s young victims and not dismiss the despicable behavior by the perpetrator(s).
The underage girls who came forward to expose their assaults can become survivors with the help of the judicial system treating the crime of rape as a felony. Historically, female rape victims, especially, have been blamed and
belittled for their assaults for decades. We must not diminish the exploitation, physical & mental harm, or the stigma that sexual assault victims are left with — even when their pedophile perpetrators go to prison .
Being an advocate for victims is always needed. Raise your voice.
1000 Victims!!!!!!!!!
Epstein Trafficking
Horrifying as it is, I’m so grateful to you both that you keep the outrage and focus at the forefront!
The Epstein child rape and trafficking that survived for ten ? years and the funding in the billions to entertain the US and international debased contributors must cause unending outrage!
i sure hope Trump is exposed in this. And Rightfully held Accountable.
The best information on the truth about Epstein and Maxwell, watch the videos by Tara Palmeri https://www.youtube.com/@TaraPalmeri/videos
She is an investigative reporter who has been working with the victims for years trying to force law enforcement to investigate the victims charges and start arresting the Johns. At very least, releasing the information on the Johns so they can face public ridicule.
Some commenters seem to think that the Epstein case is distracting us from what they consider more important things. I suggest that it's closely related to most/all of those "more important things." What ties them all together is abuse of power by wealthy mostly white men (who, as usual, have confederates who are female and/or of color), and the fact that they target those who don't have the wherewithal to fight back.
This is not new. It didn't start with Trump. Pay attention to where toxic waste dumps are sited, whose neighborhoods get bulldozed for highways and commercial development, who has to wait six (eight, ten) hours in line to vote, etc.
Agree. A story of moral depravity and extreme income inequality.
Exactly right. But it is also how the trump regime rules. Picking off those who lack the resources to prevail, rely on the federal government or hounding others in ways that are difficult to fight off and suck up their resources. (Siccing ‘the mob’ on anyone who opposes him; phony investigations etc)
Right -- but it's not just the "Trump regime." That's my point. I turned 30 the year Reagan was inaugurated. This means I have adult memories of what came before it. The Reagan administration was totally about "picking off those who lack the resources to prevail." Remember its response to AIDS? Remember its gutting of unions? Remember the demonization of certain drugs but not others? In the '90s the Clinton administration continued this practice. Remember all the garbage about "welfare moms"?
If we make this all, or mostly, about Trump, we have totally lost the plot.
Yes, I remember all of that. But it has no meaning for many people who don’t. They can barely see what is in front of them. 53% of Americans don’t know why we declared our independence. Next presidential election we’ll have a whole lot of voters 30 and under. None of them will have adult memories of DJT’s 1st term or before. Very little sense of our history or its foundation. I fear much less interest as curriculums have changed and daily pressures mount.
https://www.cato.org/blog/53-dont-know-why-we-declared-independence-britain-1776#:~:text=Nearly%2020%25%20of%20Americans%20under,president%20of%20the%20United%20States.
Clinton was not my idea of a Democrat. He was affable and empathetic. He could carry southern states. Reagan was a movie star, affable and survived an assassination attempt. He got away with a lot (as did Nancy). More came out later re: Lee Atwater’s hand on the campaign rudder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_8E3ENrKrQ
I. So glad y’all are back. If you repeat a lie enough it’ll become a truth. Trump and friends repeat so much that the Epstein files are politically motivated that the core of the matter is getting blurry. I cringe when I hear about giving Maxwell immunity or a possible pardon. That means that it doesn’t matter how horrific the crime was. As long as you are willing to cover up the truth and get on the side of trump, continue lying (she committed perjury twice) and telling to whoever wants to hear that trump is innocent, you are going to be fine. The corruption is disgusting
Thx!
In Trump's demented mind I truly believe his explanation of Epstein "stealng" his teenaged employees portrays him as a good guy. A mere victim of the thievery of his girls. We should all think for a moment how far we've fallen to have elected such a lowlife. In any event, isn't it possible Les Wexner may have some important knowledge about Epstein? I don't think anyone understands how or why Epstein, with no higher education or expertise, was allowed into that world of high finance. This rags to riches story doesn't ring true.
I agree. He must ways be the victim. OTOH, it is odd that he would remember a 14 yr old who worked in the locker room of the spa. Even he seemed to realize that in his bumbling around. He knew more about the case than he let on. Her father worked in maintenance at Mar a Lago.
To your point about high finance. Sen Wyden has been trying to trace the money & for 3 yrs his staff reviewed flagged transactions at Treasury. 4,700+ and over $1.5B. (You can google about that). He has similar questions to what you raise - https://www.finance.senate.gov/ranking-members-news/continuing-epstein-investigation-wyden-probes-irss-failure-to-investigate-sex-traffickers-highly-lucrative-tax-planning-work
About the time Epstein & trump said their friendship broke (not enough to kick him out of Mar a Lago) over real estate, Epstein partnered with Jean-Luc Brunel. He’s someone in the google machine too. They formed MC2, an international modeling agency focusing on very young girls. 2007, DJT booted him from Mar a Lago. His sweet plea deal was being drafted by the feds & he began expanding operations / his home in St. James.
There is nothing good to say about Brunel. He died by suicide in his cell while French law enforcement was investigating him in connection to the Maxwell/Epstein case, 2019.
Excellent information. Thanks!
YES, hold this arrogant monster accountable for SOMETHING!
I wish we wouldn’t follow mainstream media down the Epstein rabbit hole.It’s a distraction from how this administration destroying the country I love and making me ashamed to be an American.
This ICE project is akin to what happened to Japanese during WW2 but you have to go to THE GAURDIAN to read stories like this
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/31/georgia-detainee-double-amputee-solitary-confinement?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Here’s the real story that should be told:
The travesty to humanity-a rogue masked police force arresting people who are “illegal” only because of our screwed up immigration system,
that my country complicit in Gaza famine
Walked away from Ukraine
No longer investing in soft power to care for the world’s hungry and abandoned- a moral obligation of the richest country in the world
free speech trampled on and treated as a crime if you disagree with this administration and its definitions e.g.: having sympathy for Gaza is not antisemitism-most of those college protesters should never have been arrested.
Oh I could go on and on but let’s not let the current minutiae blind us to the harm being done. We should be asking ourselves:
Is this the America I care about? Am
I proud of how this administration cares for its people and the world?
Of course, I agree that there are other stories that have greater significance for our country and people. As I note in the conversation, the Epstein case has caused fractures in Trump MAGA and can undermine his heinous agenda, including ultimately effecting the outcome of elections (if we still have them).
To be fair, I believe you have addressed many of those issues.. that is not to say they shouldn’t be revisited or there are not emerging stories constantly. I don’t see any of that as a reason not to discuss a story that was pushed to the back burner. The Epstein case is emblematic of corruption in the justice system. Collaboration between state and federal, prosecutors, and who knows what other influences. Not unlike what we see today, it is documented in the agreement & in the released state of Florida grand jury transcript - released under a special FL law for that particular case. It is set out in statements by the retired Palm Beach chief of police, who took the case to the FBI when the state appeared to be colluding with Epstein’s defense. It’s always the victim of these crime, selected because they do not have the tools to fight back — They are the ones forgotten, minimized or vilified.
Ann Marie, Excellent Commentary to Steven's Article!! My thought from a different point of view. When I was younger my Father got me employed at the Company where he worked as a General Manager in the 1950's. The Company was owned by a Jewish fellow...my Dad worked for him for many years and knew him quite well. Apparently his family had lived in Germany before the War...and afterwards had completely vanished...it was thought in a Death Camp. After the War this fellow did whatever he could for survivors of that terrible time. Hiring many that he sponsored. I heard some unbelievable stories of the horrors of Naziism. Frankly reading about what's happening in America today was almost a repeat of what I remember hearing from these folks. I've forgotten most of what I heard from these survivors with one exception...when asked about the Tattoo on his inner arm...a fellow replied, "this is my way of "Never forgetting" my Family!"
Wow, what a riveting story and the truly scary part of what’s going on in front of our eyes. I just hope more attention will be focused on that. Conversely, don’t mean to downplay the horror of the Epstein scandal, just suggesting some balance.
It never entered my mind that you were "downplaying" any aspect of the tRump et al involved Atrocities. I think that each one of them strikes our sensitive spots differently...none being any less or more criminal or wrong than another. I think it's shameful how WOMEN are treated or, even considered in this country. I firmly believe that the 2024 Election was a perfect example of what I said! We got tRump because a seemingly capable Woman, who presented herself quite well, failed the Gender test!
Keep up the good commentary! Ann Marie!
I wish that the abuse of perhaps a thousand teens and young women was not considered minutiae. What they experienced and the trauma lives on in their minds and bodies. It deserves acknowledgment and they deserve justice.
From the beginning, they were not only denied a fair hearing but painted as criminals, child prostitutes, addicts, liars who deserved it. The police chief in Palm Beach after he retired, pointed out how he did all he could, but was sabotaged by the justice system of the state of Florida and federal prosecutors.
Two of the five witnesses have now died by suicide. The most recent was about 41 years old. All of this reflects a much deeper problem in our society.
A society that feels free to ignore injustices to some because we don’t think it affects us. The “rule of law” was not there for these young girls. Society as a whole decided to move on. They don’t really matter. Now we are ruled by a political class which has decided we don’t need justice and we don’t really matter.