Trump’s niece turns ‘predator’ label back on Republicans as sex crime cases pile up

Mary Trump argued that Republicans’ habit of branding opponents “groomers” and “predators” clashes with cases of GOP officials accused or convicted of sex crimes involving minors, in her “Under the Radar” Substack episode.

The president's niece opened with a California governor’s race ad from Republican Steve Hilton, noting there’s no evidence the actors are minors and Hilton says they’re real, but calling its content “a remarkable choice” for a party that accuses others of sexualizing children.

Her list began with former Minnesota state Sen. Justin Eichorn, who pleaded guilty to attempted possession of child sexual abuse material after a 2025 sting where an officer said she was 17, and received 16 months in prison. West Virginia Delegate David Pritt resigned after being indicted on federal child exploitation charges and lost his teaching job. Former South Carolina Rep. Robert R.J. May III pleaded guilty to distributing child sexual abuse material and got 17.5 years.

She also revisited ex-House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who admitted abusing boys he coached but was convicted only of financial charges tied to hush money.

She faulted Fox News for saying nothing more than that his reputation was “tainted” when he died.

Turning to her uncle Donald Trump, she described journalist Katie Phang’s lawsuit over DOJ’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein trafficking case files. The records at issue include a woman’s FBI statements that Epstein introduced her to Trump when she was around 13, and that Trump tried to force a sex act and hit her when she resisted. A federal judge has ordered the DOJ to hand over redacted agent notes for review in private.

“We know that a jury has found Donald liable for rape,” she writes. Her post includes no response from the White House or the Justice Department.