Epstein Files Update:Â First Lady Melania Trump has dismissed claims linking her to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, calling the allegations false and defamatory in a rare public statement issued on Thursday. “The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” she said in remarks delivered from the White House.
Melania Trump claimed she had no relationship with Epstein or his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and that her interactions with Maxwell were limited to casual email. “I am not Epstein’s victim,” she said, rejecting any suggestion of involvement.
Melania makes statement REJECTING ALL TIES WITH EPSTEIN
‘Lies linking me to disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to END today’ pic.twitter.com/8G7BHM2mIr
— RT (@RT_com) April 9, 2026
Epstein Files Update: Why Is Melania Trump Speaking Out Now?
The first lady’s remark comes as the House Oversight Committee continues to look into Epstein’s alleged ties to a larger network of prominent offenders. The committee has scheduled testimony from a number of high-profile personalities in the coming weeks, including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on June 10 and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on May 6.
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi is scheduled to testify on April 14. Bondi was fired from the Trump administration last week following bipartisan scrutiny into the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files release. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has not ruled out invoking privilege to keep Bondi from testifying.
What Is the Context of the Epstein Allegations?
Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking in children. He died in a Manhattan jail cell the following year, and authorities ruled it a suicide. The Department of Justice has made available millions of records from federal investigations into Epstein, including emails, phone directories, and other items.
Melania Trump’s name has appeared in some of the released materials, though the nature and context of those mentions have not been detailed in the first lady’s statement. She did not specify which allegations she was responding to, saying only that the “lies” linking her to Epstein need to end.
What Did Melania Trump Say About Ghislaine Maxwell?
The first lady discussed her meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate who was convicted of sex trafficking in 2021 and is serving a 20-year jail sentence. Melania Trump said her relationship with Maxwell was confined to “casual correspondence,” but she did not elaborate on the time or substance of that correspondence.
She firmly stated that she had “never had any relationship” with either Epstein or Maxwell, and rejected any suggestion that she was a victim of Epstein’s trafficking operations.
How Has the White House Responded to Epstein-Related Questions?
The White House typically refers inquiries about the Epstein probe to the Justice Department. President Trump has denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, stating that he had a falling out with the financier years before his arrest and had not spoken with him in over a decade.
The first lady’s decision to address the allegations personally is unusual, as she typically avoids public statements on controversial topics. Her remarks were brief and delivered without taking questions from reporters.
What Is the Status of the Epstein Investigation?
The House Oversight Committee continues to investigate Epstein’s alleged connections to powerful figures. In addition to Gates and Lutnick, billionaire Ted Waitt, co-founder of Gateway computer company, is expected to testify on April 30. Tova Noel, a corrections officer at the Metropolitan Correctional Center believed to be the last person to see Epstein alive, will be interviewed on May 18. Epstein’s former executive assistant Lesley Gross is expected to be interviewed on June 9.
Republican committee chair James Comer has stated that the investigation seeks to reveal the full extent of Epstein’s network and ensure justice for his victims.
FAQs: Melania Trump and the Epstein Allegations
Q: What did Melania Trump say about the Epstein allegations?
A: She denounced the claims as “lies,” asserting that she never had any relationship with Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell and emphasizing that she is “not Epstein’s victim.”
Q: Did she address her interaction with Ghislaine Maxwell?
A: Yes. She said her interaction with Maxwell was limited to “casual correspondence” and that she had no relationship with her.
Q: Why is she speaking out now?
A: The statement comes as the House Oversight Committee continues its Epstein investigation, with high-profile testimony scheduled in the coming weeks.
Q: Has Melania Trump’s name appeared in Epstein files?
A: She did not address specific mentions, but her name has appeared in some released materials. She called the linking of her name to Epstein “lies.”
Q: What is the status of the Epstein investigation?
A: The House Oversight Committee is investigating Epstein’s connections, with Gates, Lutnick, Bondi and others scheduled to testify.
Q: When did Epstein die?
A: Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.
