Statement on Jeffrey Epstein Allegations

Good afternoon.

The 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.

I do not object to their ignorance, but rather,

I reject their mean-spirited attempts

to defame my reputation.

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.

To be clear,

I never had a relationship with Epstein

or his accomplice, Maxwell.

My email reply to Maxwell cannot be

categorized as anything more than casual

correspondence.

My polite reply to her email doesn't

amount to anything more

than a trivial note.

I am not Epstein's victim.

Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump.

I met my husband by chance at a New York City

party in nineteen ninety-eight.

This initial encounter with my husband is

documented in a detail in my book, Melania.

The first time I crossed paths with Epstein was in the

year two thousand

at an event Donald and I attended together.

At the time, I had never met Epstein

and had no knowledge

of his criminal undertakings.

Numerous fake images

and statements about Epstein and me

have been circulating on social media

for years now.

Be cautious about what you believe.

These images and stories are completely false.

I'm not a witness or a named witness in

connection with any of Epstein's crimes.

My name has never appeared in court documents,

depositions,

victim statements,

or FBI in-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's

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.

The false smears about me from mean-spirited and

politically motivated individuals and

entities looking to cause damage to my good name

to gain financially and climb politically must

stop.

My attorneys and I have fought these unfound and

baseless lies with success and will continue

to maintain my sound reputation without hesitation.

To date,

several individuals and companies have been legally

obligated to publicly apl-- apologize

and retract their lies about me,

such as Daily Beast, James Carville, and Harper

Collins UK.

Now is the time for Congress to act.

Epstein was not alone.

Several prominent male executives resigned from their

powerful positions after this matter became

widely politicized.

Of course, this doesn't amount to guilt,

but we still must work openly and transparently to

uncover the truth.

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.

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.

Then,

and only then, we will have the truth.

Thank you.