On April 9, in a rare public statement, First Lady Melania Trump denied links to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

The statement comes after emails and images have been made public of the first lady with Epstein and his associate and close friend Ghislaine Maxwell, who also received convictions of child sex trafficking. 

The public has been questioning Melania and Donald Trump’s involvement with Epstein and Maxwell for years, but with more outrage growing recently as many urge the President to fully release the Epstein Files. The files contain over 3.5 million pages of evidence regarding Epstein, Maxwells and many other accomplices who have been engaged in illegal activity revolving around child sex abuse and human trafficking. 

Speculations recently have especially been growing surrounding Melania’s involvement with Epstein, specifically with allegations stating that Melania was actually introduced to Trump through Epstein himself.

The first lady took to the public to denounce the allegations, arguing that these are purely acts from “mean-spritied” individuals who are aiming to “defame” her reputation. 

“I have never been friends with Epstein,” the first lady said. “Donald [Trump] 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.”

She also took the time to clarify the reasoning behind her email sent to Maxwell in 2002, calling it nothing more than “causal correspondence.”

Addressed to “G”, believed to stand for Ghislaine, the exchanged emails involve compliments about a story in New York Magazine that featured “JE” (believed to stand for Jeffrey Epstein) with a photo of “G.”

The article also included quotes from Trump before he took the role of president. In it, he referred to Epstein as a “terrific guy” who is also “a lot of fun to be with”. 

“Give me a call when you are back in NY,” the email said. “Have a great time! Love, Melania.”

The first lady continued to clear her name, arguing that she did not have any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse towards his victims, and neither had visited his private plane (dubbed the “Lolita Express”) or his private island. 

“I have never been legally accused or convicted of a crime in connection with Epstein’s sex trafficking, abuse of minors and other repulsive behavior,” she said.

The first lady is continuing to take legal actions against alleged defamations, including many news publications. 

She concluded her statement by urging Congress to provide a public hearing for Epstein’s victims.

“Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress, with the power of sworn testimony,” she said. “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, will we have the truth,” she said as her final words.

Following her public statement, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair Rep. James Comer (R-KY) stated that the panel will hold hearings for the victims of Epstein and will be given the chance to speak out against the sex offender.

“I agree with the first lady and appreciate what she said. We will have hearings,” Comer said in an interview with Fox News.

While people are relieved that victims will be able to share their anecdotes, 15 survivors of Epstein’s abuse released a statement following her speech, feeling that the first lady is now “shifting the burden” onto survivors instead of putting the pressure on those in power.

One victim, Marina Lacerda, who is also identified in the 2019 indictment against Espetin as “Minor-Victim 1”, feels that the experience will “retraumatize” those who already went through this process before.

“You want to re-traumatize us and ask us to go in front of Congress and tell them our story, which we have told some of them already,” Lacerda said. “And then do absolutely nothing.”

While some victims feel that it may be a burden to speak in front of Congress, survivor Alicia Arden, who said she was assaulted by Epstein in her hotel when she was a young model, opened up to NPR and stated that she has an interest in testifying.

“If they feel like it’s a burden to them, then they don’t have to,” Arden said. “I don’t feel like it’s a burden on me. It helps me keep talking about it.”

Arden also stated that “everything has always needed to come out about the files” and that the extent of Epstein and his accomplices’ crimes needs to be accessible to the public.

While many files have been released to the public, many are still being withheld, or have had the names of individuals who are responsible for causing such pain to these victims.

In an investigation launched by NPR in February, it was revealed that documents naming the president were being withheld from the released files. Some were then later released to the public, many pages including sexual assault allegations about the now-president.

Survivors of Epstein and the American public are now left continuing to wait for justice to be brought to light.