In her unexpected statement, Melania Trump stressed that she was not friends with Epstein or his former partner Ghislaine Maxwell. She denied any involvement in his criminal activities and described all online attacks and speculations as defamatory and unethical. “The lies that connect me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein must end today,” she said, according to the AP agency.
The first lady also appealed to Congress to hold public hearings where survivors could testify and have their stories recorded in the official record. According to her, every victim should have the opportunity to share their story publicly, if it is worth it, so that it is possible to “finish the truth”.
She recalled that she met Epstein for the first time only in 2000 at a social event, where her husband Donald Trump was also present, and she was never aware of his criminal activities. She also described the email conversation with Maxwell as a “normal conversation” that she said had no meaning.
The first lady’s reaction came at a time when federal authorities began to make available documents related to the Epstein case. The majority of deputies expressed their support for her proposal at the public hearing.
