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Virginia Giuffre

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Primary Victim and Witness in the Epstein and Maxwell Case

Born: 1983 American
victimwitnessplaintiffactivist

Early Background

Virginia Giuffre (née Roberts) was born in 1983. As a teenager she experienced difficult family circumstances and by 2000 had made her way to Florida, where she found work at Mar-a-LagoDonald Trump’s Palm Beach clubas a locker room attendant.

Meeting Maxwell

In 2000, when Giuffre was 16-17 years old, Ghislaine Maxwell approached her and offered work as a “massage therapist.” Giuffre alleges that she was subsequently brought into Epstein’s circle and that systematic sexual exploitation began shortly thereafter.

According to her testimony, during 2000-2002 she was trafficked to various powerful individuals, including:

  • Prince Andrew (three occasions)
  • Alan Dershowitz
  • Lawrence Krauss
  • Other individuals identified in sealed filings

2009: Provides sworn declarations in federal civil proceedings.

2015: Files defamation suit against Ghislaine Maxwell after Maxwell publicly denied her account. Case settled in 2017 on confidential terms.

2021: Files civil lawsuit against Prince Andrew. February 2022: Out-of-court settlement reached, reported at approximately $1216 million. Andrew stepped back from royal duties.

Role in the Maxwell Case

Although procedural reasons prevented Giuffre from testifying in person at Maxwell’s trial, her extensively documented prior sworn testimony was critical to the jury’s understanding of the trafficking operation and its network of victims.

Activism

Giuffre founded the advocacy organization POWA (Speak Out, Act, Reclaim) and regularly speaks on behalf of trafficking survivors. In 2023 she withdrew certain specific accusations against several individuals following new evidence that called some details into question. Her core allegations against Epstein and Maxwell remain central to the record.

Significance

Giuffre was the first Epstein victim to step publicly into the light and sustain public advocacy over a long period. Her persistencemaintaining her account over more than 20 years despite legal threats, NDAs offered to her, and public attacks on her credibilityis credited by victim advocates with keeping the case alive during the years when media and law enforcement interest had waned.