Melania Trump has denied ever having a relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and said the claims about it are defaming her.
"The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," Mrs Trump said in a rare address from the White House.
She said she had never had a relationship with Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, with whom she said she had only a casual correspondence.
"I am not Epstein's victim," Mrs Trump said.
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She went on to say that the convicted paedophile was not the one who introduced her husband, Donald Trump.
The First Lady revealed that she first met Epstein in 2000, when she attended an event with Mr Trump.
She said: "To be clear, I never had relations with Epstein or his accomplice Maxwell.
"I never been friends with Epstein. Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time.
Melania Trump has denied any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein
|REUTERS
"Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance.
"Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time, since overlapping in social circles is common."
She confirmed she was at parties with Epstein in New York and Palm Beach.
She stated her email reply to Maxwell, "cannot be categorised as anything more than casual correspondence.
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The First Lady has issued a stern statement after rumours of a friendship with Jeffrey Epstein
|REUTERS
"My polite reply to her email does not amount to anything more than a trivial note.
"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 am 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 interviews surrounding the Epstein matter.
"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, was never on Epstein’s plane, and never visited his private island."
She continued: "I have never been legally accused or convicted of a crime in connection with Epstein’s sex trafficking, abuse of minors, and other repulsive behaviour.
"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.
She concluded the rare address with a call to action for Congress, saying: "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 politicised. 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 victimised by Epstein with a public hearing specifically centred 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, will we have the truth."