Melania Trump has given a press conference at the White House denying ties to Jeffrey Epstein and calling accusations linking her to him ‘completely false’ and ‘baseless lies’
Melania Trump has demanded that “lies” connecting her to Jeffrey Epstein must cease.
The First Lady has flatly denied any association with Epstein or awareness of his criminal activities, insisting the “stories are completely false” and branding allegations of her involvement as “smears”.
Speaking at a press conference, Melania declared those smears “need to end today”, adding: “They are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect. I do not object to their ignorance, but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.”
Delivering a statement at the White House, she said: “My attorneys and I have fought these unfounded and baseless lies with success.” She was adamant that she had “never been friends with Epstein”.
“Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time since overlapping in social circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach,” Melania explained, reports the Mirror.
“My email reply to Maxwell cannot be characterised as anything more than casual correspondence. My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a trivial note.
“I am not Epstein’s victim, Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump, I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998. This initial encounter with my husband is documented in my book Melania.
“The first time I crossed path with Epstein was in the year 2000 at an event Donald and I attended together. At the time I had never met Epstein and had no knowledge of his criminal undertakings.
“Numerous fake images and statements about Epstein and me having been circling on social media for years now. Be cautious about what you believe, these images and stories are completely false. I am not a witness or a name witness in any of Epstein’s crimes.”
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She went on to reiterate that she had no knowledge whatsoever of Epstein’s crimes, stating: “I have never had any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims. I was never involved in any capacity, I was not a participant, was never on Epstein’s plane and never visited his private island.
“I have never been legally accused or convicted of a crime in connection with Epstein’s sex trafficking, abuse of minors or other repulsive behaviour. The false smears about me from mean spirited and politically motivated individuals and entities looking to cause damage to my good name, to gain financially and climb politically, must stop.”
The first lady also urged Congress to arrange a public hearing focused on survivors of Epstein’s crimes, giving them an opportunity to testify before lawmakers and have their accounts formally recorded in the congressional record.
“Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes,” she said. “Then, and only then, we will have the truth.”
Her unexpected message arrived just as Donald Trump and his administration had seemingly managed to put the Epstein scandal behind them, after it had rocked the political landscape for months.
The controversy had gradually been eclipsed by the conflict in Iran and other pressing matters – but the First Lady’s remarks could well thrust it back into the political spotlight once more.
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