First Lady Melania Trump denies relationship with Jeffrey Epstein
First lady Melania Trump has denied any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell.
This is the White House transcript of First Lady Melania Trump’s speech about Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday, April 9th.
Hello.
The lies that link me to the disgraced Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.
Those who lie about me lack ethical standards, humility, and respect. I do not object to their ignorance, but rather reject their mean-spirited attempts to smear my reputation.
I was never friends with Epstein. Because New York City and Palm Beach often overlap in social circles, Donald and I were sometimes invited to the same parties as Epstein.
To be clear, I have never had anything to do with Epstein or his accomplice Maxwell. My email response to Maxwell cannot be classified as mere casual communication. My polite reply to her email was just a note.
I am not a victim of Epstein. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance in 1998 at a party in New York City. My first meeting with my husband is detailed in my book Melania.
I first met Epstein in 2000 at an event Donald and I attended together. At the time, I had never met Epstein and knew nothing about his criminal activities.
Numerous false images and statements about Epstein and me have been circulating on social media for years. Be careful what you believe. These images and stories are completely false.
I am not a witness or named witness in connection with Epstein’s crimes. My name has never appeared in any court documents, depositions, victim statements, or FBI interviews surrounding the Epstein matter.
I had no knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims. I have never been involved in any capacity. I was not a participant and had never been on Epstein’s plane or visited his private island.
I have never been legally charged or convicted in connection with Mr. Epstein’s sex trafficking, abuse of minors, or any other disturbing conduct.
The false slander about me by malicious and politically motivated individuals and groups who seek to damage my reputation for financial gain and political advancement must stop.
My attorney and I have successfully fought these baseless lies and will continue to maintain my sound reputation without hesitation. To date, several individuals and companies have been legally obligated to publicly apologize and retract lies about me, including The Daily Beast, James Carville, and Harper Collins UK.
It’s time for Congress to act. Mr. Epstein was not alone. After the issue became widely politicized, several prominent male executives resigned from powerful positions. Of course, this does not make us guilty, but we still need to work openly and transparently to uncover the truth.
I call on Congress to provide survivor-centered hearings for the women affected by Epstein. Give these victims the opportunity to testify before Congress using the power of sworn testimony. Every woman should have a day to tell her story in public if she wishes, and her testimony should be permanently recorded in the Congressional Record.
Then, and only then, will we know the truth.
