ISTANBUL

The family of Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse, urged US President Donald Trump in a public statement Wednesday not to consider clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate and convicted sex trafficker, NBC News reported.

The plea came after Trump, speaking to reporters, said Epstein had “stolen” Giuffre from his Mar-a-Lago resort, where she worked at age 16. Giuffre’s family called the remark “shocking” and questioned whether Trump had knowledge of Epstein and Maxwell’s actions.

“It makes us ask if he was aware of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s criminal actions, especially given his statement two years later that his good friend Jeffrey 'likes women on the younger side…no doubt about it.' We and the public are asking for answers; survivors deserve this,” the family said in the statement.

Giuffre died by suicide in April. She had long been one of the most outspoken survivors of Epstein and Maxwell’s abuse.

The family added that Maxwell specifically “targeted and preyed” on Giuffre while she worked at Mar-a-Lago in 2000 -- “several years before Epstein and President Trump had their falling out.”

Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting and trafficking minors for sex. She recently met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as the Trump campaign seeks information tied to Epstein’s case. Maxwell’s attorney said there have been “no asks and no promises” on clemency but added she “would welcome any relief.”

Last week, when asked about pardoning Maxwell, Trump said he hadn’t considered it but noted he’s “allowed to do it.”

“The government and the president should never consider giving Ghislaine Maxwell any leniency,” the family said.

“Ghislaine Maxwell is a monster who deserves to rot in prison for the rest of her life for the extraordinary violence and abuse she put not just our sister Virginia through, but many other survivors, who may number in the thousands."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Justice Department also declined to comment on the Giuffre family’s statement.