Melania Trump Scrambles to Deny Epstein Ties While Urging Congress to Hear Victims

Melania Trump broke her usual silence on the Epstein scandal with a forceful statement denying any relationship with the convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking from the White House, the First Lady insisted she had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, never participated in his abuse, and was never on his infamous private plane or island.

“I have never been legally accused or convicted of a crime in connection with Epstein’s sex trafficking, abuse of minors, and other repulsive behavior,” Melania told reporters, condemning what she called “false smears” aimed at damaging her reputation for political and financial gain.

Her statement comes amid the release of new Epstein files revealing a 2002 email exchange between Melania and Epstein’s close associate Ghislaine Maxwell. In the email, Melania praises a New York magazine article about Epstein and compliments Maxwell’s appearance. Melania dismissed the email as “nothing but a casual response,” denying any deeper relationship.

She also disputed claims that Epstein introduced her to Donald Trump, saying they met by chance at a New York party in 1998, a story she says is detailed in her book.

Most notably, Melania diverged from her husband’s long-standing efforts to downplay the Epstein controversy. She urged Congress to hold public hearings allowing Epstein’s victims to testify under oath, stating, “Now is the time to act.” However, she stopped short of demanding the release of the millions of still-redacted Epstein documents held by the Department of Justice.

Democrats greeted her call for hearings with skepticism. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam challenged her to testify under oath herself, dismissing her remarks as a “shameless book promotion” unless she cooperated with investigators.

Melania also addressed circulating images of her with Epstein on social media but did not clarify if these were newly surfaced or previously known. She accused media outlets and individuals of spreading “unfounded and baseless lies” about her, noting several had issued public apologies and retractions following legal pressure.

Her statement ended with a call for transparency and justice for Epstein’s victims, emphasizing the need for “open and transparent” investigations into all involved parties. This rare public intervention by the First Lady highlights the persistent shadow Epstein’s crimes cast over the Trump orbit and raises fresh questions about the extent of the family’s entanglement with one of America’s most notorious sex traffickers.