First Lady Melania Trump recently brought attention back to Jeffrey Epstein. In a surprise announcement on Thursday, the first lady called for a congressional hearing for survivors of Epstein’s sex trafficking.
As per BBC, the first lady has denied connections to Epstein, telling reporters at the White House that any claims linking the two “need to end today.”
“I have never had any knowledge of Epstein abuse of his victims,” she said. “I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant.”
She explicitly denied ever having a relationship with Epstein, stating she did not know him and was not involved in his activities. She also rejected claims that she was a victim, calling such allegations false. She acknowledged possible overlap at social events in New York and Palm Beach in the early 2000s but denied any direct connection.
READ: Melania breaks box office records with $7.1 million opening (February 4, 2026)
During the statement, she called on the U.S. Congress to hold hearings where survivors of Epstein’s trafficking network could testify under oath and have their accounts formally recorded.
As per the BBC, Melania Trump on Thursday additionally called on lawmakers to “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,” she said. “Then, and only then, we will have the truth.”
“Of course, this doesn’t amount to guilt, but we still must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth,” she said.
Taken together, the remarks and the immediate political response reflect how the Epstein case continues to function as a live issue in U.S. public life rather than a closed chapter. Even years after his conviction and death, the case remains a reference point for broader debates about institutional accountability, survivor advocacy, and the handling of sexual abuse allegations involving powerful individuals. When high-profile figures publicly call for formal hearings, it tends to shift attention from speculation toward procedural questions—specifically what Congress can or should do within its oversight and investigative powers.
READ: Melania Trump faces backlash for introducing humanoid robot teacher (March 26, 2026)
The response from lawmakers also illustrates the predictable partisan dynamics that often follow such statements. Agreement or support from members of Congress does not necessarily indicate a unified path forward, but it can signal early-stage interest in formal inquiry mechanisms, such as committee hearings or document reviews. Whether that interest translates into action depends on leadership decisions, political priorities, and evidentiary developments.
As per the BBC, in a statement published soon after she spoke, California Representative Robert Garcia, the most powerful Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said that “we agree with Melania Trump’s call for a public hearing.”