(SeaPRwire) – First lady Melania Trump has denied any association with Jeffrey Epstein or knowledge of his illegal activities, stating on Thursday that the “stories are completely false” and characterizing the allegations as “smears” against her.
Delivering a notable statement at the White House, Melania Trump said she and her legal counsel were pushing back against “unfound and baseless lies” regarding her ties to the deceased financier, a convicted sex offender who used his connections to the elite to facilitate his crimes and evade consequences.
“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” she declared. “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.”
The unexpected announcement came as the administration of her husband, President Donald Trump, seemed to have moved past the long-standing Epstein controversy, particularly as international tensions with Iran dominated the news cycle.
The First Lady’s remarks will almost certainly return the issue to the political forefront, even as the president has encouraged the media and the public to move on from the matter.
Nick Clemens, a spokesperson for the First Lady, noted that the West Wing was informed of her intention to speak. However, he did not confirm if the specific details of her statement were known beforehand. The White House press office has not yet commented.
Demands for a Congressional Inquiry for Epstein’s Victims
The First Lady spoke for approximately five minutes in the Grand Foyer before leaving without taking questions. While she did not detail the specific claims, she attributed them to “individuals and entities looking to cause damage to my good name.”
She further claimed these efforts were motivated by political and financial gain.
Melania Trump also called for Congress to organize a public hearing for the survivors of Epstein’s crimes, providing them a platform to testify and have their accounts added to the official record.
“Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes,” she stated. “Then, and only then, we will have the truth.”
In a subsequent response, Epstein accusers Maria and Annie Farmer stated: “What we want is accountability, transparency, and justice.”
Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican who previously distanced herself from the president, posted on social media, “I am grateful to the First Lady for her brave statement today about Epstein and his victims.”
Democrats also reacted to the comments, expressing agreement with the call for a hearing. Representative Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, urged the Republican chairman, Representative James Comer, to schedule a public hearing “immediately.”
Representative Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who supported legislation to release Epstein-related documents, shifted the focus to the Justice Department, stating it is the Attorney General’s responsibility to bring survivors in for testimony. Massie, an advocate for further arrests in the case, concluded a social media post with a call to “PROSECUTE!”
The ongoing questions regarding Epstein’s influence have created friction within the administration and the Republican party, causing a divide among Trump’s supporters over the release of files and the prosecution of those linked to the financier.
The controversy has been a persistent issue for Trump and has strained some of his political relationships, including with Greene. Trump had previously dismissed the matter as a “Democrat hoax,” though he later signed a bill authorizing the release of Epstein’s case files.
It was not immediately clear what prompted the First Lady to address the issue now. She mentioned that several organizations and individuals have had to apologize for “lies about me,” citing an instance as recent as October.
In that case, the publisher HarperCollins UK apologized to the First Lady and retracted portions of a book that suggested Epstein was involved in her introduction to Donald Trump.
Melania Trump mentioned her husband several times, clarifying that Epstein did not introduce them and that they met at a party in New York City in 1998.
Correspondence with Maxwell Described as ‘Insignificant’
The First Lady’s statement comes months after federal authorities released millions of pages of documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. This law was passed following intense public pressure to open government files on the financier and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Lawmakers expressed frustration when the Justice Department provided only a partial release last month, though officials explained that more time was needed to review newly discovered documents and protect victim identities.
Melania Trump stated on Thursday that she was not friends with Epstein or Maxwell, though they shared social circles in Florida and New York. She described an email she sent to Maxwell as “casual correspondence.”
“My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a trivial note,” she explained.
Among the documents released by the Justice Department was a brief 2002 email with redacted names. It began with “Dear G!” and was signed “Love, Melania,” offering compliments on a magazine piece about “JE.”
“I know you are very busy flying all over the world,” the email read. “How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY.”
The email was sent during the same month a New York Magazine article featured Trump calling Epstein a “terrific guy.”
Other released documents included a photo from Epstein’s residence showing Donald and Melania Trump alongside Epstein and Maxwell.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of recruiting minors for abuse and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
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Associated Press reporters Stephen Groves in Washington and Michael R. Sisak and Larry Neumeister in New York contributed to this report.
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