Epstein Survivor Accuses First Lady of Victim-Blaming in Congressional Hearing Call
Danielle Bensky, a survivor of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has publicly criticized First Lady Melania Trump's recent statements regarding Epstein's victims, suggesting they constitute victim-blaming. Bensky made these remarks during an appearance on MS NOW with host Ana Cabrera on Friday, responding to the first lady's surprise press address the previous day.
Shifting Burden onto Survivors
"I heard blame be placed on survivors in this," Bensky told Cabrera during the interview. "I think that it feels like the burden has been now placed on survivors to come forward and speak in front of Congress, when in reality, we've been asking for proper investigations and for trials to move through this the right way from the very beginning."
During her Thursday press event, Melania Trump called for congressional hearings for Epstein survivors while addressing speculation about her connections to both Epstein and his imprisoned accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. The first lady had stated: "Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony. Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public, if she wishes, and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the congressional record."
Survivors' Collective Response
Bensky's criticism echoes a statement released Thursday by over a dozen Epstein survivors who accused the first lady of "shifting the burden onto survivors under politicized conditions that protect those with power." During her television appearance, Bensky expanded on this sentiment, telling Cabrera that "this administration is often, I mean, it's a master class on the art of deflection, right?"
The survivor noted what she described as contradictions between Melania Trump's remarks and statements from acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who had indicated that "the extent that the Epstein files was a part of the past year of this Justice Department, it ... should not be a part of anything going forward."
Concerns About Safety and Proper Procedure
Bensky expressed significant concerns about the potential dangers survivors might face if compelled to testify before Congress without adequate protections. "Survivor safety should be paramount, and it's something that this administration doesn't seem to care much about," she warned.
"So, like, there are no safety precautions and procedures put in place at this point, which is why we've been, you know, asking for the release of the files," Bensky continued. "We've been asking for the transparency so that we can follow investigative leads, like we need to start the investigations."
Calling for Institutional Accountability
The Epstein survivor emphasized that responsibility should lie with law enforcement agencies rather than victims. "I think we really are just completely caught off guard and trying to figure out, you know, what our next move is, but that the burden needs to be on the DOJ," Bensky stated. "The burden needs to be on the FBI. We have an FBI, we have a DOJ. They need to do their jobs."
Bensky's comments highlight ongoing tensions between Epstein survivors seeking thorough investigations through proper legal channels and political figures calling for public congressional testimony. The survivor's critique centers on what she perceives as deflection from institutional responsibilities onto victims who have already endured significant trauma.
