Virginia Giuffre at her house in Perth, Australia.
Photograph: Stephanie Noritz
Virginia Giuffre died on Friday, April 25, 2025. In response to the New York Instances, which obtained an announcement from Giuffre’s household, the reason for demise was suicide. She was 41. The under interview was initially printed on December 29, 2021.
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Early Thursday morning at her house in Perth, Australia, Virginia Giuffre woke as much as her husband shaking the mattress, saying, “Get up! You’ve obtained to get up! She’s responsible.” As she opened her eyes, she was shocked to be taught that Ghislaine Maxwell had been convicted of sex-trafficking expenses and will resist 65 years in jail for recruiting, grooming, and abusing women alongside Jeffrey Epstein. “It’s a bittersweet emotion as a result of I’ve been combating for lengthy,” Giuffre mentioned. “However it’s undoubtedly a aid to know that she’s off the streets.”
After Epstein died in 2019, victims like Giuffre have been robbed of the possibility to face him in courtroom. Whereas protection attorneys used this to their benefit, portray Maxwell as a scapegoat for a useless man’s sins all through the trial, Giuffre sees the British socialite because the even greater offender. “She’s extra evil than Epstein,” she informed me. “What Ghislaine did to so many people is unforgivable.”
Giuffre is probably the most well-known sufferer on this case, and although she was not known as to testify, her presence loomed over the proceedings (her identify was talked about virtually 250 occasions and pictures of her as a youngster have been proven in courtroom). The now-38-year-old says Maxwell recruited her in 2000 by dangling a chance to turn out to be Epstein’s skilled masseuse. Giuffre, who was working as a locker attendant at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago spa, jumped on the alternative. However as soon as the 16-year-old arrived on the pink mansion in Palm Seashore, it grew to become clear she could be pressured into intercourse with each Epstein and Maxwell, in keeping with Giuffre’s depositions from a 2015 lawsuit. (In her personal deposition for the case, Maxwell claimed Giuffre has “lied repeatedly, typically and is simply an terrible fantasist.”) She had spent her childhood out and in of foster care, being trafficked and sexually assaulted on the streets, and figured “that is what life should be about.”
For the subsequent few years, she says she was ensnared in a trafficking ring, enduring repeated abuse from Epstein and Maxwell together with their highly effective associates, together with Prince Andrew and Alan Dershowitz (each males deny these claims and haven’t confronted any expenses). She escaped in 2002, when Epstein despatched her on a visit to Thailand to convey house his newest trafficking recruit. There, Giuffre met a person she married ten days later, and moved to his house in Australia to begin a household (when she delivered the information to Epstein, he responded, “Have a pleasant life,” and hung up). Her new chapter was interrupted 5 years later, in 2007, when she was pulled into an FBI investigation that in the end resulted in a plea cope with little jail time for Epstein. Since then, combating for justice has consumed Giuffre; she’s publicly informed her story and stays tangled in ongoing lawsuits towards Maxwell, Dershowitz, and Prince Andrew. She spoke with the Minimize concerning the first significant prison conviction within the trafficking scheme that haunts her to at the present time.
You simply woke as much as some very highly effective information. How are you feeling?
I’ve been dreaming of at the present time for the final ten years, not understanding that it was going to return. Because the trial began, I’ve been having sleepless nights, eager to get within the jurors’ minds. I’m grateful they noticed Maxwell for who she is.
It’s a bittersweet emotion as a result of I’ve been combating for therefore lengthy. It’s undoubtedly not over. There are such a lot of extra individuals concerned with this. It doesn’t cease with Maxwell. However it’s undoubtedly a aid to know that she’s off the streets. And that irrespective of how wealthy or how related you’re, that you could nonetheless be held accountable.
What occurred after your husband delivered the decision?
I used to be shaken awake to him saying, “Responsible! Responsible! Responsible!” I mentioned, “I want a cup of espresso.” After which I jumped off the bed. My center son had simply woken up, and I simply was so excited to inform him. My youngsters have seen me undergo hell and again. He gave me the largest hug and was like, “Mother, you probably did it!” and that was a melting second for me, my child being proud. I’m very joyful. I’m nonetheless very shaken. I believe it takes time to heal, and this justice is a part of the method. Now I can begin actually working previous Maxwell and desirous about the others who must be held accountable.
What’s it been like watching this trial unfold from afar?
I’ve been coping in addition to I probably can being on the opposite aspect of the world. I upped my remedy classes. I, um … couldn’t assist however give it some thought on a regular basis, every single day. I’d go to mattress desirous about it. I’d get up in the midst of the evening and begin Googling “Ghislaine Maxwell” to see if there had been any progress. After which making an attempt to return to sleep with all these issues in your thoughts, I simply … I really feel like some days I used to be simply hanging on by a thread.
I dream about Epstein and Maxwell quite a bit. Typically they’re abusing me; different occasions we might be at a movie show. It ranges, however I all the time get up wishing I didn’t must dwell a lot prior to now.
Sounds such as you haven’t been getting a lot relaxation.
I’ve endured worse than this earlier than, however the case is an enormous deal to me. That is somebody who abused me from a younger age, somebody who used their womanly talents to make me really feel comfy. It wasn’t like some previous wealthy dude pulled up on the aspect of the highway and requested if I needed to offer him a therapeutic massage. I had this girl at Mar-a-Lago with this prim and correct accent ask me if I needed to have an interview.
Proper, Ghislaine bucked the stereotypes of a typical predator, which made her simpler to belief.
The deceit hurts much more as a result of I fell naïvely into her lure. I imply, she is poised. She seems refined. She didn’t elevate any hairs on the again of my head. I used to be only a locker-room attendant at Mar-a-Lago who needed to be a masseuse. Ghislaine involves me with this superb deal, saying, “Oh my God, you’re good. You’re precisely who we’ve been in search of!” I informed her I’ve no expertise in therapeutic massage remedy and she or he’s like, “Don’t fear about that, we’ll get you educated. You’ll turn out to be an actual therapeutic massage therapist, you’ll journey the world. You’ll make the cash.” I imply, you inform that to any 16-year-old they usually’re going to leap at it. And I did. That very first evening at his mansion, the abuse began to occur. The shade simply went over my eyes once more and I believed, That is what life should be about. Mar-a-Lago was purported to be a brand new starting for me.
Inform me extra about that. I do know you met Ghislaine at a time once you have been making an attempt to select up the items.
Epstein and Maxwell took part of my childhood that I’ll by no means get again. I used to be enrolled in lessons and getting my GED. I had a job and was carried out with dwelling on the streets. I actually simply needed one thing as regular as doable. I’d gone by way of a lot abuse already, you’d assume I’d have had a tremendous radar for a lot of these predators. However Ghislaine related with me on a special degree. She noticed me studying a guide about therapeutic massage remedy and was capable of nab me in that approach. The factor about predators is that they search the susceptible, discover out what they need, and promise them a dream. That’s how they work. Cages and chains are available all totally different styles and sizes. I wasn’t tied to a radiator or something, such as you’ve seen in films. My shackles have been Epstein and Ghislaine’s wealth and the highly effective individuals they knew. Epstein informed me he owned the Palm Seashore police division. It was all simply actually scary.
Let’s speak about your determination to inform your story publicly, first within the Each day Mail in 2011 and elsewhere over the previous decade.
It was an enormous change. I used to be scared at first, you recognize? I puzzled, Am I doing the appropriate factor by my household, talking out? What’s the trigger and impact right here? However I knew the professionals outweighed the cons. I couldn’t be a great mother whereas understanding Ghislaine and Epstein have been nonetheless on the market doing precisely what they’ve all the time carried out.
I do know you’ve mentioned the selection to talk out was prompted by the beginning of your daughter in 2010.
I don’t need my little woman rising up in a world that’s so vicious. She’s practically 12 and she or he’s drop-dead beautiful. Social media has made life a lot simpler for pedophiles. Epstein had a pyramid scheme, which actually labored for him. It wasn’t soiled previous males bringing women over. These women and girls weren’t informed what was occurring. You then get there and also you’re caught in it and, you recognize … [she puts her head in her hand.]
Inform me about what made you so emotional.
It’s not simply my little woman, it’s about all of the little women. And boys. It’s a scary world we’re dwelling in proper now. I belief my daughter, however I’ve to undergo her cellphone a minimum of as soon as every week and sit down along with her and ask, “Who’re you speaking to? What are you guys speaking about?” I’m in all probability extra-cautious. My youngsters inform me that I’m.
You even have two teenage sons. What impression has your story had in your youngsters’ lives?
All of my household has been affected. They see what I’ve talked about. They’ve buddies that Google my identify and say, “Oh my God, is that this your mother?” It’s quite a bit for them to hold. However now they’re youngsters. They’re at that prime period in life the place I believe it’s essential to show them about intercourse trafficking, what indicators to look out for. And so I’m open with them. I allow them to watch certainly one of my interviews.
Which one?
60 Minutes Australia. The present did a extremely good job. I’ve been talking out for ten years, and at first, the media was like, Properly, that is only a story about glitz and glamour, and flying excessive within the sky and assembly individuals. It was like, “Wait a second, you guys forgot to speak concerning the abuse.” They didn’t know easy methods to inform the story.
It sounds such as you’ve actually made an effort to teach your youngsters about your expertise.
I put it on the market. I can sit right here and discuss to you, mainly any grownup relating to what I’ve been by way of. However with my youngsters, it’s such a fragile matter. And I deal with it as such. I don’t need them going by way of life consistently trying over their shoulder considering, Properly, it occurred to my mother, so it might probably occur to me. However I do need them to bear in mind that the world is an enormous place, and it’s simple to get trapped.
The protection unsuccessfully tried to make the case that Maxwell was being scapegoated for Epstein’s crimes. How did you view her function?
She was the satan’s right-hand man. She made these appointments for him, she actively went on the market and scouted for brand new women. She was a part of the sexual encounters at occasions. To color herself as simply the “home supervisor” is a load of crock.
You’re describing how Ghislaine was additionally sexually abusive, along with the recruiting and grooming she did. Was she as damaging as Epstein?
She’s undoubtedly worse than Epstein. She used that appeal, that wit, that smile to return off as any person you wish to belief. Epstein did a complete bunch of actually dangerous stuff, appearing on his sick urges. One sufferer mentioned it completely: Jeffrey needed to ejaculate such as you and I’ve to breathe. It’s natural to him [in a deposition, the accuser claimed Epstein said he needed “three orgasms a day” and that it “was biological, like eating”]. However Ghislaine facilitated it. She was the one on the market bringing the women in for him and collaborating in a number of the sexual occasions. She’s worse to me, extra evil than Epstein. What Ghislaine did to so many people, it’s unforgivable.
When Epstein died in 2019, you spoke about mourning your “skill to carry him accountable.” Now Ghislaine has been convicted, however what does justice appear like for you? Is that this sufficient?
After Epstein handed, Choose Berman [a federal judge who was overseeing the sex-trafficking case] allowed us victims to return in and talk about what we’d been by way of in impression statements. It was a really liberating second for me. I instantly grew to become good buddies with the opposite ladies; they’re my survivor sisters. We use WhatsApp a minimum of a couple of occasions every week to keep up a correspondence.
However let’s simply say, it wasn’t simply Jeffrey and Ghislaine who participated on this. Justice to me seems like holding all of those individuals concerned within the intercourse ring, those that greased its wheels, named and shamed. I’m sick of carrying round that disgrace. That disgrace doesn’t belong to me. I believe justice is available in many types, and one space I wish to change is the statute of limitations.
I do know you’ve began a corporation known as Communicate Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR), centered on serving to survivors and finally authorized reform. What are you engaged on?
I can’t inform you what number of occasions a day I get messages from individuals who say, “That is taking place to me. I don’t know what to do. However I do know you’ve gone by way of this.” I’m not in remedy or something like that, so I simply level them in the appropriate path.
However there’s quite a lot of confusion on the market. Individuals say, “I wish to converse out, however what’s going to return from it if I can’t maintain them accountable?” That’s why combating the statute of limitations means a lot to me [right now, it’s a matter of state law, with some taking effect only a few years after a sex crime]. While you rape any person, once you site visitors any person, you’re not simply sexually abusing them. You’re taking part of them that they’ll by no means get again. You’re creating scars that don’t heal. There’s no statute of limitations for homicide. If I may change these legal guidelines, I may wipe my forehead, mud my arms off, and really feel like I made a distinction.
What’s it been wish to be so consumed by this advocacy, which is deeply tied to your trauma? How are you taking good care of your self? I hear you’ve a French bulldog named Juno.
[She lifts Juno onto her lap.] I’m exercising and I’m doing yoga and taking my canine to the seashore. I’m doing as many issues to clear my thoughts as doable in order that I will be sharp and be centered when it issues. Juno’s the love of my life; we don’t go wherever with out one another.
I’m simply drained, as a result of I’ve been combating for therefore lengthy. However I’ve nonetheless obtained that combat in me. What I’m going by way of proper now’s going to assist any person on the market in the future, and that’s my purpose. That’s my focus, by telling my story again and again.
This interview has been edited and condensed for readability.
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