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WASHINGTON\u2014First lady Melania Trump on Thursday condemned \u201clies\u201d linking her to the disgraced late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.<\/p>\n
The first lady unexpectedly issued a statement in the afternoon that was not on the official White House schedule shared with reporters.<\/p>\n \u2018The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today. The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility, and respect,\u201d she began.<\/p>\n \u201cI do not object to their ignorance, but rather, I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation. I\u2019ve never been friends with Epstein,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n The first lady said she and President Donald Trump were occasionally invited to the same parties that Epstein attended because of common \u201coverlapping\u201d in social circles in New York City and Palm Beach, Florida.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, [Ghislaine] Maxwell,\u201d she said. \u201cMy email reply to Maxwell cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence. My polite reply to her email doesn\u2019t amount to anything more than a trivial note.\u201d<\/p>\n The first lady added that she is not a victim of Epstein\u2019s and that she met her husband years before she ever crossed paths with Epstein.<\/p>\n \u201cI am not Epstein\u2019s victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump,\u201d she said. \u201cI met my husband by chance at a New York City Party in 1998. This initial encounter with my husband is documented in detail in my book Melania<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe first time I crossed paths with Epstein was in the year 2000 at an event Donald and I attended together. At the time, I had never met Epstein and had no knowledge of his criminal undertakings,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n She also blasted \u201cfake images and statements\u201d circulating online that allege a link between her and Epstein.<\/p>\n \u201cBe cautious about what you believe. These images and stories are completely false,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She added:<\/p>\n I\u2019m not a witness or a named witness in connection with any of Epstein\u2019s crimes. My name has never appeared in court documents, depositions, victim statements or FBI interviews surrounding the Epstein matter. I have never had any knowledge of Epstein abuse of his victims. I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant, was never on Epstein\u2019s plane, and never visited his private island. I have never been legally accused or convicted of a crime in connection with Epstein, sex trafficking, abuse of minors, and other repulsive behavior.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n She said those attacking her with \u201csmears\u201d are \u201cpolitically motivated.\u201d The first lady noted that, through the legal system, the likes of the\u00a0Daily Beast<\/em>, James Carville, and HarperCollins UK have been required to publicly apologize to her<\/span>. She also called on Congress to hold a public hearing for Epstein\u2019s victims.<\/p>\n \u201cI call on Congress to provide the women who have been victimized by Epstein with a public hearing, specifically centered around the survivors. Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cEach and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public, if she wishes, and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the Congressional Record. Then and only then, we will have the truth,\u201d the first lady concluded.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n