First lady Melania Trump on Thursday denied any connection to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, urging Congress to hold a public hearing where Epstein’s survivors can testify under oath. She made the remarks during a six-minute livestreamed statement from the White House, marking her first direct public address on the Epstein matter following the Justice Department’s release of extensive Epstein-related records.
“I call on Congress to provide the women who have been victimized by Epstein with a public hearing specifically centered around the survivors,” the first lady said. She emphasized the importance of allowing each victim to share her story publicly if she wishes, with all testimonies entered into the congressional record to help reveal the truth.
Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, responded positively to the first lady’s call, describing her statement as “pretty stunning” and aligning it with longstanding congressional requests to hear directly from Epstein survivors. Garcia noted that the first lady’s remarks highlight the presence of “powerful men” yet to be fully scrutinized and the continuing need for survivor testimonies.
President Donald Trump told MS NOW he was unaware of Melania Trump’s statement before it was made. A White House spokesperson confirmed the West Wing knew she would speak publicly but did not disclose the statement’s specific topic or content in advance. It remains unclear why Melania Trump chose to make the statement several months after the release of the Justice Department records, earlier public photos, and the known email correspondence between her and Maxwell.
Melania Trump rejected claims linking Epstein to her introduction to Donald Trump, explaining that she met her husband at a New York City party in 1998, not through Epstein. She described the email exchange with Maxwell referenced in the DOJ files as a polite and casual response.
“I am not Epstein’s victim,” the first lady said. “The first time I crossed paths with Epstein was in 2000 at an event attended by Donald and me. I never had any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities and was never involved in any capacity. I was not on Epstein’s plane and never visited his private island.”
Following Melania Trump’s remarks, more than a dozen Epstein survivors released a joint statement criticizing the call for additional hearings as shifting responsibility onto victims rather than delivering justice. They stressed that survivors have already demonstrated courage by coming forward and that politicizing their testimonies risks protecting those in power.
Why it matters
Melania Trump’s public distancing from Jeffrey Epstein and her call for congressional hearings directly confront ongoing public and political scrutiny surrounding Epstein’s criminal network and high-profile connections. Her statement adds pressure on lawmakers to pursue survivor testimonies in a transparent manner, potentially influencing future investigations.
Background
Jeffrey Epstein, a financier convicted of sex offenses, had associations with many influential figures before his 2019 death. Recent government releases of court records and email correspondences have deepened scrutiny of individuals linked to him. Melania Trump’s involvement was suggested in media and public speculation due to photos and email exchanges but had not been addressed by her in detail until this statement.
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