US First Lady Melania Trump has slammed what she described as false claims about her and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, denying she had any knowledge of his crimes.
“I am not Epstein’s victim,” she said in a rare public statement read to media at the White House.
“Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump.”
“I have never had any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims.
“I was never involved in any capacity – I was not a participant, was never on Epstein’s plane, and never visited his private island.”
The first lady also described an email she sent to Epstein’s accomplice and former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell in 2002 as a “casual correspondence”.
US President Donald Trump had a social and professional relationship with the convicted paedophile and disgraced financier, but says he ended it before his death in 2019.
Melania Trump demanded the “lies” tying her to Epstein must end today.
“The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility, and respect. I do not object to their ignorance, but rather, I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.”
She ended her statement by saying Epstein was not acting alone and urged the US Congress to hold hearings centred on the survivors of his abuse.
“Epstein was not alone. Several prominent male executives resigned from their powerful positions after this matter became widely politicised. Of course, this doesn’t amount to guilt, but we still must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth.
“Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes,” she said. “Then, and only then, we will have the truth.”