Overview
- Melania Trump, in a White House statement Thursday, rejected any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell and asked lawmakers to hold survivor‑focused hearings under oath.
- She said a 2002 email to Maxwell was only casual correspondence and stated she never flew on Epstein’s plane, never visited his island, and is not named in court filings or FBI interviews.
- Recent Justice Department releases included the 2002 email and have fueled scrutiny alongside photos showing social overlap, which she said reflected shared social circles rather than personal ties.
- House Democrats signaled openness to survivor hearings, with Rep. Robert Garcia urging action, yet no formal session has been scheduled.
- News accounts differed on whether President Trump knew the remarks were coming, and one survivor group said her push risks shifting the burden back onto victims instead of officials who control the records.