Melania Trump Denies Ties To Jeffrey Epstein And Calls For Congress To Hold A Hearing For Survivors

WASHINGTON — In a uncommon nationalist statement, First woman Melania Trump connected Thursday said she "never had a relationship" pinch precocious convicted activity offender Jeffrey Epstein aliases his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.

In her little remarks from nan White House, Trump said that location person been galore "fake images and statements astir Epstein and me" circulating connected societal media.

Trump's connection was brief, but it was notable. The first woman is cautious successful her nationalist remarks and pinch her nationalist image. A number of her aides gathered to watch her connection successful nan Grand Foyer of nan White House, but respective of them did not cognize what she was going to opportunity beforehand.

It was nan first clip Trump had spoken astir nan Epstein contention connected camera. It’s unclear what prompted Trump to make these remarks now, but her unit has been aggressive astatine knocking down what they telephone "defamatory" Epstein rumors.

They travel aft nan Justice Department told nan House Oversight Committee connected Wednesday that erstwhile Attorney General Pam Bondi will not comply pinch a subpoena to supply grounds adjacent week earlier nan panel.

"The mendacious smears astir maine from mean-spirited and politically motivated individuals and entities looking to origin harm to my bully sanction to summation financially and climb politically must stop," she said.

The first woman called connected Congress to supply nan Epstein survivors pinch a nationalist hearing.

"Give these victims their opportunity to attest nether oath successful beforehand of Congress pinch nan powerfulness of sworn testimony. Each and each female should person her time to show her communicative successful public, if she wishes, and past her grounds should beryllium permanently entered into nan Congressional Record," she said. "Then and only then, we will person nan truth."

In her comments, she referenced an email reply she erstwhile sent to Maxwell and said that “it cannot beryllium categorized arsenic thing much than casual correspondence.”

The first woman said she’s not an Epstein unfortunate and that he didn’t present her to her husband, President Donald Trump. She said nan first clip she crossed paths pinch Epstein was successful 2000 astatine an arena she and Trump attended together. “At nan time, I had ne'er met Epstein and had nary knowledge of his criminal undertakings,” she said.

She appeared to beryllium referencing an email released by nan Department of Justice from October 2002 successful which she purportedly wrote “Dear G! How are you? Nice communicative astir JE successful NY. You look awesome connected nan picture. I cognize you are very engaged flying each complete nan world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot hold to spell down. Give maine a telephone erstwhile you are backmost successful NY. Have a awesome time! Love, Melania." The email addresses for nan sender and recipient are redacted successful nan nationalist document.