Melania Trump Distances Herself From Epstein, Calls For Congressional Hearing For Survivors

First lady Melania Trump called for Congress to hold a public hearing centered on survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse, in a Thursday press appearance where she also attempted to distance herself from the late sex abuser.

“Epstein was not alone,” she told reporters. “Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony.”

The demand is a major step for the first lady given the friendship her husband, President Donald Trump, had with the disgraced financier. The White House has not immediately responded to HuffPost’s request for comment. The House Oversight Committee’s ranking member, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), welcomed such a hearing.

Melania Trump made sure to clarify, for some reason, that she herself is not a victim of Epstein’s abuse, and claimed that “the lies linking me … need to end today.” Given the lack of such an accusation at the time of her speech, it’s unclear if the first lady is trying to get ahead of a potential story related to her and the sex offender.

“I am not Epstein’s victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump,” she told reporters, adding that she and the president would attend some of the same parties as the late sex abuser in New York City and Palm Beach, Florida.

Melania Trump also admitted to having exchanged an email with Epstein’s now-imprisoned accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell at least once. The October 2002 email in question was part of the Justice Department’s release of Epstein-related files made public in February by the House Oversight Committee.

“Dear G! How are you? Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great on the picture,” the email to Maxwell read, with “JE” likely a shortened reference to Epstein. “I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY. Have a great time!”

On Thursday, Melania Trump said her email to Maxwell “cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence.”

“My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a [trivial] note,” she continued, after claiming that she was not friends with Epstein.