Melania Trump attacks Jeffrey Epstein claims

First lady Melania Trump on Thursday blasted what she described as an array of false claims about her and notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“I am not Epstein’s victim,” Melania Trump told reporters in a statement at the White House that ended without her taking questions. “Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump.”

“I have never had any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims,” she said of the late sex offender, who was previously a friend of President Trump’s. “I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant.”

“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” Melania Trump said. “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.”

The first lady ended her statement by calling on Congress to give “women who have been victimized by Epstein … a public hearing specifically centered around the survivors.”

“Then, and only then, will we have the truth,” she said.

It was not clear what spurred the first lady to comment on Epstein. Her office’s announcement on Wednesday that she would make a statement at the White House on Thursday did not indicate what she planned to talk about.

But in her statement, the text of which the White House later posted online, the first lady acknowledged writing a warm email to Epstein’s now-convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell on Oct. 23, 2002, which referenced a New York magazine profile about Epstein.

That email is one of millions of documents related to Epstein and Maxwell that have been released by the Department of Justice pursuant to a law mandating their public release.

The email was posted on X on Feb. 10 in a tweet thread by Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

In the New York article, President Trump said, “I’ve known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy.”

“He’s a lot of fun to be with,” Trump said in the article. “It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life.” 

In her email to Maxwell, Melania Trump wrote, “Dear G! How are you? Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great on the picture.”

“I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY. Have a great time! Love, Melania,” she wrote.

Melania Trump, in her statement on Thursday,…