Melania Trump on Thursday issued a strong denial of any association with "disgraceful" financier Jeffrey Epstein, calling claims linking her to him baseless.
In a rare public address from the White House, she said, "The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today." She added, "I am not Epstein's victim," directly rejecting circulating allegations.
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Melania also clarified that she never had any relationship with Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, stating that any interaction with Maxwell was limited to casual correspondence.
On social circles and past encounters
Addressing reports of shared social spaces, Melania acknowledged attending the same events as Epstein along with her husband, Donald Trump. She explained that such overlaps were not unusual, noting they occurred "since overlapping in social circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach".
She also dismissed suggestions that she met Trump through Epstein, recalling her first encounter with Epstein in 2000 at an event she attended with Trump. At the time, she said, she had no knowledge of his criminal activities.
Denies travel, involvement in case
Melania firmly denied ever visiting Epstein's private island or being linked to any investigation involving him. "I have never had any knowledge of Epstein's abuse of his victims. I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant, was never on Epstein's plane, and never visited his private island," she said.
She further stressed that she is not a witness in any ongoing or past probe related to the case.
Call for public testimony
In her remarks, Melania also urged US lawmakers to give survivors of Epstein's abuse a platform to speak openly. She called for public hearings where victims could share their accounts under oath.
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"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.
