Melania Trump Denies Epstein Ties, Urges Parliamentary Hearing for Survivors

Melania Trump Addresses Epstein Allegations

In an unexpected statement from the White House, First Lady Melania Trump has vehemently denied any connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, demanding that "any claims linking the two need to end today". She also refuted online speculation that Epstein introduced her to Donald Trump, branding such suggestions as "mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation".

Mrs Trump additionally denied knowing Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's disgraced associate, characterising a 2002 email exchange as merely "casual correspondence" and a "polite reply". She stated that she had only briefly "crossed paths" with Epstein in 2000 and had no knowledge of his abuse.

Call for Congressional Hearings

In a significant move, Mrs Trump urged lawmakers to "give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony". She stressed the importance of allowing every woman to tell her story publicly, ensuring their testimonies are "permanently entered into the congressional record" to uncover the truth.

The First Lady's call has garnered a swift response, with California Representative Robert Garcia, a prominent Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, publicly agreeing with her request and pressing for an immediate public hearing. However, reactions from Epstein survivors have been mixed, with some questioning the practical support such a hearing would offer.

This rare public intervention from Melania Trump is expected to intensify public debate surrounding the ongoing investigation into Epstein and the subsequent release of related files.