More than a dozen survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse have publicly criticized Melania Trump, the First Lady of the United States, after she called for Congress to hold public hearings with victims. In a statement, the group accused her of 'shifting the burden' onto them, stating that they have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward and providing testimony. They argued that asking for more from the survivors is a deflection of responsibility rather than a pursuit of justice. Melania Trump had previously denied having any relationship with Epstein or his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, asserting that she was not a victim and had no knowledge of Epstein's crimes. Her comments have sparked significant backlash from those affected by Epstein's actions.