Washington — First girl Melania Trump on Thursday delivered remarks denying any friendship or relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and he or she referred to as on Congress to carry a public listening to with Epstein’s survivors.
In a six-minute livestreamed assertion from the White Home, the primary girl for the primary time following the Justice Division’s launch of troves of Epstein data publicly and straight addressed the Epstein matter. The primary girl mentioned “now’s the time for Congress to behave.”
“I name on Congress to supply the ladies who’ve been victimized by Epstein with a public listening to particularly centered across the survivors,” the primary girl advised a bunch of gathered reporters on the White Home. “Give these victims their alternative to testify below oath in entrance of Congress with the ability of sworn testimony. Each girl ought to have her day to inform her story in public, if she needs, after which her testimony ought to be completely entered into the congressional document. Then and solely then, we may have the reality. Thanks.”
The highest Democrat on the Home Oversight Committee, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, referred to as the primary girl’s remarks “fairly gorgeous,” and mentioned her name for a listening to with the testimony of Epstein survivors is one thing “that we’ve got been asking for for months and have been advised each time that it wasn’t potential.”
“We definitely welcome and agree along with her name to listen to straight from the survivors,” he advised MS NOW shortly after the primary girl’s remarks. He added, “I feel what’s vital about what the primary girl mentioned is that she is being clear that there are nonetheless highly effective males on the market. There are nonetheless tales to be advised.”
President Trump advised MS NOW he did not “know something about” the primary girl’s assertion earlier than she made it. The primary girl’s spokesperson advised CBS Information that the West Wing was conscious she was going to be making a press release, however wouldn’t affirm whether or not anybody was conscious of what the subject or contents of the assertion can be.
It is unclear why the primary girl delivered her assertion on Thursday, as an alternative of instantly following the discharge of particular data. Outdated images of the Trumps with Epstein and Maxwell have been publicly obtainable, and the Justice Division emails revealed the primary girl and Maxwell corresponded no less than as soon as over e-mail.
Requested why Melania Trump determined to make this assertion now and whether or not she was referring to any specific report or allegations, or whether or not there was some forthcoming story, her spokesperson pointed CBS Information to a press release that the primary girl’s senior adviser, Marc Beckman, gave on to the New York Submit.
“First Girl Melania Trump spoke out now as a result of sufficient is sufficient,” Beckman mentioned. “The lies should cease. It’s time for the general public and media to deal with her unimaginable achievements as First Girl, the lives she has positively impacted, and her dedication to our nation.”
Melania Trump mentioned Epstein didn’t introduce her to Donald Trump, and the temporary e-mail trade launched within the DOJ data between her and Maxwell was merely a “well mannered,” “informal” reply.
“I’m not Epstein’s sufferer,” the primary girl mentioned. “Epstein didn’t introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by likelihood at a New York Metropolis social gathering in 1998. This preliminary encounter with my husband is documented intimately in my guide Melania. The primary time I crossed paths with Epstein was within the yr 2000 at an occasion Donald and I attended collectively. On the time, I had by no means met Epstein and had no data of his prison undertakings. Quite a few faux pictures and statements about Epstein and me have been circulating on social media for years now. Be cautious about what you imagine. These pictures and tales are fully false.”
“I’ve by no means had any data of Epstein’s abuse of his victims,” she added. “I used to be by no means concerned in any capability. I used to be not a participant. Was by no means on Epstein’s airplane. And by no means visited his personal island.”
Greater than a dozen Epstein survivors launched a press release Thursday following the primary girl’s remarks, saying they “have already proven extraordinary braveness by coming ahead, submitting stories, and giving testimony.”
“Asking extra of them now’s a deflection of duty, not justice,” the assertion mentioned, which additionally accused the primary girl of “shifting the burden onto survivors below politicized situations that defend these with energy.”
Jane Chick and Sara Prepare dinner contributed to this report.
