By Betsy Klein, MJ Lee, NCS
(NCS) — First girl Melania Trump blasted “lies linking me to the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein” in extraordinary and uncommon remarks from the White House Thursday, making an attempt to distance herself from the convicted intercourse offender whereas calling on Congress to maintain public hearings permitting his victims to testify on Capitol Hill.
That name for motion instantly undercut ongoing messaging from her husband and the West Wing, renewing consideration on a subject that was fading from public discourse amid the conflict with Iran. President Donald Trump and his prime lieutenants have sought to downplay Epstein and his victims, repeatedly and publicly stating that the nation is prepared to transfer on.
Donald Trump was conscious his spouse deliberate to make Thursday’s assertion, an individual acquainted with the matter mentioned.
“I’ve never been friends with Epstein. Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time, since overlapping in social circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach,” the primary girl mentioned in remarks to reporters. “To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, [Ghislaine] Maxwell.”
She referred to as on Congress to present a discussion board for Epstein’s victims to testify on Capitol Hill.
“I 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,” Trump mentioned.
“Each 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.”
Former Attorney General Pamela Bondi, who was fired in half over her dealing with of the Epstein recordsdata, was requested to apologize to Epstein survivors throughout a February congressional listening to and declined to achieve this.
Melania Trump additionally sought to downplay her relationship with Maxwell, Epstein’s affiliate who was convicted of intercourse trafficking. NCS had inquired with her workplace in February a few pleasant 2002 e mail trade between the 2 girls — which was launched as a part of a tranche of paperwork pertaining to the Epstein investigation — however didn’t obtain a response. Trump signed that e mail, “Love, Melania” and Maxwell responded, calling her “sweet pea.”
On Thursday, Trump characterised the e-mail as “casual” and a “polite reply.”
Several Epstein survivors have been shocked to see — if not completely unaware of — Trump’s remarks Thursday. Sources on Capitol Hill echoed that confusion, saying they have been uncertain what had prompted the primary girl’s uncommon remarks.
The House Oversight Committee’s prime Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia, mentioned in a press release shortly after: “We agree with First Lady Melania Trump’s call for a public hearing with the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein. We encourage Chairman Comer to respond to the First Lady’s request and schedule a public hearing immediately.” NCS has reached out to GOP Rep. James Comer’s workplace for remark.
One advocate for the victims mentioned that whereas Trump’s acknowledgement of the hurt Epstein wrought was a optimistic step, they wanted authorized mechanisms to pursue the reality that wouldn’t hurt survivors.
The first girl has by no means spoken publicly on the problem prior to Thursday’s remarks, ignoring a shouted query about Maxwell throughout an unrelated occasion in February. She has, nonetheless, filed lawsuits over previous efforts to tie her to Epstein, countering what she characterised Thursday as “smears” that have been “mean-spirited and politically-motivated.”
Trump has efficiently obtained retractions and apologies from HarperCollins Publishers, Democratic strategist James Carville and The Daily Beast.
She additionally emphasised Thursday that she was unaware of Epstein’s crimes regardless of their social connection.
“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. I was never on Epstein’s plane, and never visited his private island,” she mentioned, describing his actions as “repulsive.”
The first girl has saved a comparatively low profile in her second time period, largely splitting her time between Palm Beach and New York, selling her eponymous documentary, focusing her efforts on accountable AI use for youngsters, reunifying kids allegedly kidnapped by Russia with their households in Ukraine, and laws defending Americans from deepfake and revenge pornography. Her workplace suggested a “statement” from the primary girl on Wednesday, however declined to present any particulars, with a senior adviser telling the New York Post that the information would “spread internationally.”
Kevin Liptak and Donald Judd contributed to this report.
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