WASHINGTON — In a rare public statement, first lady Melania Trump on Thursday denied having any knowledge of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein‘s crimes, saying she “never had a relationship” with the late convicted sex offender or his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.
In her remarks at the White House, Melania Trump said numerous “fake images and statements about Epstein and me” have been circulating on social media. It remains unclear what images she was referring to.
Thursday’s surprise remarks are the first time that Mrs. Trump has spoken about the Epstein controversy on camera. Still, staff members have been aggressive about knocking down what they call “defamatory” Epstein rumors.
“I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell. My email reply to Maxwell cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence. My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a trivial note,” she said.
“I am not Epstein’s victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998. This initial encounter with my husband is documented in detail in my book ‘Melania,’” she added.
The first lady’s office and the White House did not immediately respond to FWRD AXIS News when asked what prompted Mrs. Trump to speak out about the issue publicly.
“The first time I crossed paths with Epstein was in the year 2000 at an event Donald and I attended together. At the time, I had never met Epstein and had no knowledge of his criminal undertakings,” she said in her remarks Thursday.
The First Lady also stated that she has never been legally accused of any crimes by Epstein and that she is not mentioned in any court documents, depositions, or victim statements related to Epstein.
“I have never been legally accused or convicted of a crime in connection with Epstein,” she said.
The First Lady called for public hearings into the Epstein controversy and to enable survivors to testify before Congress.
“Now is the time for Congress to act. Epstein was not alone. Several prominent male executives resigned from their powerful positions after this matter became widely politicized. Of course, this doesn’t amount to guilt, but we still must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth,” she said.
“Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony, each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public, if she wishes, and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the Congressional Record,” she said. “Then, and only then we will have the truth.
Following the First Lady’s remarks, 13 Epstein survivors accused the First Lady of “shifting the burden onto survivors,” rather than pushing for accountability.
“Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward filing reports, and giving testimony. Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility not justice,” they said. “First Lady Melania Trump is now shifting the burden onto survivors under politicized conditions that protect those with power: the Department of Justice, law enforcement, prosecutors, and the Trump Administration, which has still not fully complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.”
The statement also said Melania Trump’s speech “diverts attention from [former Attorney General] Pam Bondi, who must answer for withheld files and the exposure of survivors’ identities.”
“Survivors have done their part. Now it’s time for those in power to do theirs,” they said.
