Melania Trump rejects any connection to Jeffrey Epstein and calls for a hearing for survivors. Seven hours ago. Bernd Debusmann Jr. at the White House. First Lady Melania Trump has rejected any ties to Jeffrey Epstein, instructing White House reporters that allegations connecting them “must stop today.” In an unexpected Thursday statement, she urged Congress to hold hearings for Epstein’s sex trafficking survivors. She also dismissed internet rumors that Epstein introduced her to Donald Trump, labeling them “vicious efforts to tarnish my name.” The reason for her remarks remains unknown. Her office gave no previous hint of addressing Epstein, and the White House hadn’t previewed the subject when listing her comments on its daily agenda. She stated she was never Epstein’s victim, having only “briefly crossed paths” with him in 2000. “I had no awareness of Epstein’s mistreatment of his victims,” she added. I was never involved in any way. I did not participate. She also denied any knowledge of Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned associate of the disgraced financier. She cited a 2002 email exchange with Maxwell that was made public in the Epstein documents, dismissing it as mere “casual correspondence” and a “polite reply.” The email in question, seemingly the one she mentioned, is addressed to “G”—likely standing for Ghislaine—and offers praise for a New York Magazine story about “JE” that included a photo of G. She wrote that she “cannot wait” to visit Palm Beach. “Call me when you’re back in NY,” the email states.
