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By:
BBC
- April 10, 2026 12:09 am
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US First Lady Melania Trump has clearly denied any connection to Jeffrey Epstein, telling reporters at the White House that the allegations linking them should end immediately and not continue.
In a surprise statement on Thursday, she called on Congress to hold hearings for victims of Epstein's sex trafficking ring so they can speak out and be officially heard, the BBC reports.
She also denied rumors circulating online that Epstein had introduced her to US President Donald Trump, calling these claims malicious and unfair attempts to damage her personal reputation.
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It is not known what prompted her to make this statement at this time, and her decision came without public warning from her office.
Reactions from people who have suffered from Epstein's actions have been mixed. One of them, Lisa Phillips, praised the statement as a brave step, but at the same time asked what more the First Lady can do to concretely help victims.
The White House had given no indication that it would address the issue. President Trump told MS Now that he had not been aware of the statement in advance, while The New York Times reported that there was uncertainty about whether or not he knew its contents.
Melania Trump stressed that she was not a victim of Epstein and that her contact with him was very limited, only a brief meeting in 2000.
She stated that she had no knowledge of the abuses he committed and that she was not involved in any way in his activities.
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She also denied knowing Ghislaine Maxwell, who is considered a close associate of Epstein and is currently in prison.
Speaking about a 2002 email between her and Maxwell, which has been made public in Epstein's files, she said it was just a simple communication and a polite response without any particular significance.
Finally, Melania Trump called on lawmakers to give victims the opportunity to testify under oath before Congress, so that the truth can come to light through official testimony.
She emphasized that every woman should have the right to tell her story in public if she wants to, and that this testimony should be preserved as part of official state documents.
According to her, only through an open and transparent process can the full truth on this issue be achieved.
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After completing the statement, she refused to answer questions from reporters.
