Jessica Reed Kraus, a conservative influencer, has questioned the accounts of survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse.Kraus, who calls herself “independent media,” posted more than two dozen Instagram stories criticising the women for participating in flights to Epstein’s private island and suggested some of their stories were exaggerated.She also accused the survivors of being “propped up by liberal media” and called their recent press conference a “PR stunt.”“Forgive me, for refusing to embrace a narrative in which college aged women who boarded a private jet again and again (for years) to vacation & accept payments as escorts to a multi millionaire, later convinced them they were victims of rape–Epstein was dead and the only person left to sue was Ghislaine Maxwell,” Kraus wrote in an Instagram story.“I was raped 25 times on the island,” Kraus wrote, mocking one of Epstein’s victims. “Maybe stop boarding the flights that take you to (Epstein’s) island,” she added.Unlike other conservative commentators who condemned Epstein and Maxwell, Kraus, who also attended Maxwell’s trial, used her platform to defend her and cast doubt on survivors’ claims. She has publicly worn a “Free Ghislaine” t-shirt and called out other influencers who disagreed with her position.Kraus also criticised the MeToo movement in her posts, writing that it “overlooks facts and common sense” and can allow victims to “twist and manipulate the story.” She urged followers to examine the facts rather than automatically believe survivors’ accounts.Earlier this year, Kraus was among a group of pro-Trump online personalities given a binder containing “Phase 1” of the Epstein Files by the White House. The files largely contained information already in the public domain. Speaking alongside Republican and Democratic members of Congress, Epstein-survivors recently urged US president Donald Trump to release additional Epstein Files and hold those involved accountable. The White House has declined to release further documents, saying there is no new information.
