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First Lady Melania Trump has denied connections to Jeffrey Epstein, telling reporters at the White House that any claims linking the two “need to end today”.<\/p>\n
In a surprise announcement on Thursday, the first lady called for congressional hearings for survivors of Epstein’s sex trafficking.<\/p>\n
She also denied online rumours that Epstein introduced her to Donald Trump, calling them “mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation”.<\/p>\n
It is unclear what prompted the announcement.<\/p>\n
The intervention has produced a mixed response from Epstein survivors. One survivor, Lisa Phillips, described the statement as a “bold move” but questioned what more the first lady could do to support Epstein’s accusers.<\/p>\n
There was no prior indication from her office that she would make a statement on Epstein, and the White House did not share the topic earlier when her remarks were put on its daily schedule.<\/p>\n
The president told news outlet MS Now he did not know about his wife’s statement ahead of time. Meanwhile, the New York Times quoted a spokesperson for Melania Trump as saying the president knew that the first lady planned to make a statement, but later said it was unclear if he was aware of the topic of the remarks.<\/p>\n
Melania Trump said she had not been a victim of Epstein, with whom she only briefly “crossed paths” in 2000.<\/p>\n
“I have never had any knowledge of Epstein abuse of his victims,” she said. “I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant.”<\/p>\n
She also denied knowing Ghislaine Maxwell, the disgraced financier’s jailed associate.<\/p>\n