A group of 15 survivors of Jeffrey Epstein pushed back Friday against first lady Melania Trump’s call for public congressional testimony, saying her appeal would shift the burden onto victims, even as House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said “we will have hearings.”
Trump made a rare public statement Thursday at the White House in which she denounced links between her and Epstein and called on Congress to hold hearings “specifically centered around the survivors.” She urged lawmakers to “Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony,” and said each woman’s testimony should be entered into the Congressional Record.
The group of 15 victims released a joint statement Friday saying, “First Lady Melania Trump is now shifting the burden onto 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.”
Comer told Fox News’ Sandra Smith that hearings had long been planned. “I agree with the first lady and appreciate what she said. We will have hearings,” he said. He added that Oversight Committee attorneys have been in regular contact with lawyers for Epstein victims, and that “there are some victims who are willing to come in, [but] most victims aren’t, and I completely understand that.” Comer said hearings would follow the completion of depositions.
Comer said former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sat for closed-door depositions with the committee in February, and that a deposition for Microsoft founder Bill Gates is scheduled for June. Marc Beckman, the first lady’s senior adviser, told Fox & Friends on Friday that Trump had cleared her record, positioned herself as a champion for victims and was calling on Congress to act. The survivors’ statement concluded, “Survivors have done their part. Now it’s time for those in power to do theirs.”
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
