Donald Trump addressed one of the most talked-about political debates surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case ahead of a potential congressional hearing. The president clarified his position on public survivor testimony while raising questions about the process.
Donald Trump comments on public hearing for Jeffrey Epstein survivors
President Donald Trump expressed support for public congressional hearings for survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, PBS News and The Hill reported. Trump made the comments outside the White House before departing for Las Vegas. He signaled openness to the idea while raising questions about survivors’ willingness to testify.
“I’m OK with it,” Trump told reporters regarding the proposed public hearings for Epstein survivors. He noted concerns about testimony procedures and the survivors’ reported reluctance. “That’s what I heard, that the women, the victims or whatever, they refused to go under oath, which was a little surprising,” he added.
First Lady Melania Trump urged Congress last week to hold a public hearing centered specifically around the survivors. She called on lawmakers to enter their testimony into the congressional record during rare remarks at the White House. The first lady also firmly denied any relationship to Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell during the address.
President Trump addressed the first lady’s motivations for publicly speaking out on the matter last week. “Melania felt strongly about it because she was accused of — that I met her through Epstein, but it turned out to be totally false,” he said. Democrats have pushed for both Trump and the first lady to testify under oath before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer is committed to holding hearings with Epstein’s victims after ongoing depositions conclude. “I’ve always planned on having hearings with the victims,” Comer said during a Fox News appearance last Friday. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche also backed the idea of public congressional hearings at a recent summit. He encouraged any victim willing to come forward to share what they know with the FBI about Epstein or other individuals involved.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Mandatory.com.
