First lady Melania Trump denied having any connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein or having any knowledge of his crimes in a rare public statement on Thursday, noting any stories of a potential relationship “are completely false.”
“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” Trump said. “The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect. I do not object to their ignorance, but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.”
Instead, the first lady called on Congress to hold public hearings for the victims of the now-deceased sex offender to give them an opportunity to share their stories under oath.
It’s an extraordinary statement from Trump, whose husband has repeatedly sought to downplay the Epstein case and has often referred to it as “a hoax.” Still, the Epstein files have played a major role in national politics over the past year, especially after Congress voted to compel the Justice Department to release all its investigative materials into the disgraced financier.
The first lady argued that both she and President Donald Trump had no connection to Epstein, noting the extent of their relationship was an “overlapping in social circles (which) is common in New York City and Palm Beach.”
“I have never been friends with Epstein. Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time,” she said. “To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, (Ghislaine) Maxwell.”
Melania Trump’s statement on Thursday is likely to revive conversations about the Epstein files, which has mostly fallen to the wayside due to the war in Iran and other major political issues. But lawmakers on Capitol Hill, particularly Democrats, are eager to keep the spotlight on the issue.
Democrats have already threatened to hold former Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt of Congress for declining to appear for testimony in relation to her handling of the Epstein case. The Justice Department has informed the House Oversight Committee she is no longer obligated to do so after being removed from the position.