New York, N.Y. — Family members of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a notable survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse, expressed strong indignation following the Justice Department’s recent release of Ghislaine Maxwell’s testimony transcripts. They argue that this move offers Maxwell an inappropriate platform to distort the narrative surrounding her crimes and undermines the truth of what survivors like Giuffre experienced.

In a statement, Giuffre’s family pointed out that the content of Maxwell’s testimony directly contradicts the foundation of her conviction for child sex trafficking. They described the Justice Department’s decision as a “travesty of justice” that diminishes the bravery of those who risked their safety to bring her to justice.

Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence, was interviewed by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche last month as part of an investigation initiated during the Trump administration, aimed at gathering further insights into Epstein’s network of abuse. The Justice Department released recordings and transcripts of the two-day session, where Maxwell dismissed a series of allegations against herself and Epstein—claims made notably by Giuffre, who died by suicide in April.

Giuffre had previously accused Maxwell of grooming her for sexual exploitation by Epstein and introducing her to influential figures, including Prince Andrew. The specifics of Giuffre’s allegations became pivotal in a lawsuit against Andrew, which he has consistently denied; the case was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum in 2022.

During her interview, Maxwell claimed that Giuffre’s accusations against Andrew were unfounded, and she disputed key facts and evidence, including an alleged photograph of Giuffre with the Duke of York. She described the allegations as “manufactured,” suggesting she had corroborative evidence to support her claims.

Giuffre’s family criticized the Deputy Attorney General’s approach, asserting that he failed to challenge Maxwell’s statements adequately. They believe the public release of her testimony presents an opportunity for Maxwell to reshape her narrative without facing tough scrutiny over her past actions.

In her testimony, Maxwell maintained that she never observed any inappropriate behavior from men in connection with Epstein, including Donald Trump. She also denied the existence of an alleged “client list” that could implicate others in Epstein’s crimes and continued to proclaim her innocence despite her conviction.

Giuffre’s family has been vocal about their concerns regarding how the Justice Department has treated Maxwell, especially in light of the renewed efforts by the Trump administration to uncover more of Epstein’s secrets. After the interview, they urged officials not to grant any lenience to what they referred to as a “monster” deserving perpetual incarceration.

Amid political speculation, Trump has not dismissed the possibility of a pardon for Maxwell, with his remarks suggesting it remains a topic of consideration. Meanwhile, Maxwell is pursuing legal avenues through the Supreme Court to appeal her conviction, with a decision regarding her case expected next month.

Recent developments have seen Maxwell transferred from a low-security prison in Florida to a minimum-security facility in Texas, igniting further outrage from Giuffre’s family. They condemned the move as indicative of a troubling message that trivializes the serious nature of child sex trafficking.

In conjunction with the release of Maxwell’s testimony, the Justice Department partially complied with a congressional subpoena concerning Epstein’s case, releasing thousands of documents. However, criticism arose from Democrats who noted that most of the released documents had already been made public.