Melania Trump Denies Epstein Ties in Rare Public Statement

First Lady Melania Trump delivered a rare public statement on Thursday, denying any close ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and calling on Congress to hold hearings for his victims. Speaking from the White House, Trump emphasized that she was not a victim of Epstein and that he did not introduce her to President Donald Trump. She met her husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998, she said, and her first encounter with Epstein was in 2000 at an event she attended with her husband. Trump also addressed a 2002 email exchange with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's associate, calling it a polite, casual correspondence. She accused those linking her to Epstein of being "devoid of ethical standards" and called for Congress to provide a public hearing for Epstein's survivors, allowing them to testify under oath. The statement comes amid ongoing speculation and rumors about her past connections to Epstein, fueled by the release of the Epstein files by the Department of Justice. The first lady did not take questions from reporters after her remarks.