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'.
In a surprise announcement on Thursday, the first lady called for congressional hearings for survivors of Epstein's sex trafficking.
She also denied online rumours that Epstein introduced her to Donald Trump, calling them 'mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation'.
It is unclear what prompted the announcement.
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.
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.
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 his remarks.
Melania Trump clarified that she had not been a victim of Epstein, with whom she only briefly 'crossed paths' in 2000. '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.'
Furthermore, she denied knowing Ghislaine Maxwell, the disgraced financier's jailed associate.
She referred to a 2002 email between her and Maxwell released in the Epstein files, calling it nothing more than 'casual correspondence' and a 'polite reply'.
Melania Trump's statements have sparked debates around transparency and accountability in the Epstein case. She emphasized the need for victims to testify under oath with their stories permanently recorded in congressional history.
This unexpected foray into the Epstein controversy by the first lady has reignited public discussions concerning her late husband's connections to the financier, caused an uproar among survivors who desire tangible support, and prompted calls for accountability in a case that has long remained pressed in the shadows.
