WASHINGTON: Melania Trump has firmly denied any connection to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. She also rejected claims that she was ever one of his victims.
The statement was delivered on Thursday at the White House. It brought the Epstein controversy back into public attention.
Melania Trump addressed the issue in a brief speech. She read a prepared statement and did not take questions from reporters.
She strongly rejected online claims linking her to Epstein. She said such accusations were false and damaging.
“The lies linking me with Jeffrey Epstein must end,” Melania Trump said during her remarks. She stressed that she had never been his victim.
The First Lady also rejected speculation that Epstein introduced her to Donald Trump. She said she met her future husband at a New York City party in 1998.
According to her statement, she first crossed paths with Epstein two years later. That meeting occurred at an event she attended with Donald Trump.
Melania Trump said she had never had a personal relationship with Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. She described her contact with Maxwell as limited and casual.
During her remarks, the First Lady also urged the US Congress to hold public hearings. She said victims of Epstein should have a chance to speak under oath.
Her proposal could bring renewed focus to the case. The issue has already created political pressure for the administration.
The Epstein controversy has resurfaced recently after debates over the release of government files. These documents include references to several public figures.
The US Department of Justice released some materials under a transparency law passed by Congress.
One file includes a 2002 email from Melania Trump to Maxwell. In the message, she commented on a magazine article about Epstein.
On Thursday, Melania Trump described the email as a simple note. She said it was “casual correspondence” without deeper meaning.
Some political observers said her public statement was unusual. First ladies rarely address controversies directly from the White House.
Despite mixed reactions, Melania Trump’s remarks have revived debate about the Epstein case. The issue remains sensitive in US politics and public discussions.
Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges related to sex trafficking minors. Authorities ruled his death a suicide.
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The renewed attention shows that the Epstein scandal continues to influence American political discourse.
