A group of Jeffrey EpsteinSurvivors criticize a declaration made by Melania Trump Thursday, in which she denied any relationship with Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. She also accused certain media and individuals of trying to smear her reputation.
Toward the end of his statement, Trump called on Congress to provide Epstein's female victims with “a public hearing specifically focused on survivors.”
“Give these victims the opportunity to testify under oath before Congress with the power of sworn testimony,” she said.
In a joint media response Friday, Epstein survivors said they had “shown extraordinary courage in coming forward, filing reports and testifying.”
They accused Trump of blaming Epstein's victims.
“Asking them for more now is a deflection of responsibility, not justice,” the survivors say in their statement.
“It also diverts attention from (former Attorney General) Pam Bondi, who must answer for the withheld cases and the revelation of the identities of the survivors,” the text continues.
“These failures continue to put lives at risk while protecting those involved. Survivors have done their part. Now is the time for those in power to do theirs,” the statement concluded.
Trump on Thursday accused people she says are lying about his alleged ties to Epstein of being ignorant, “lacking ethical standards, humility and respect.”
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“I reject their petty attempts to defame my reputation,” she said.
“False smears against me from petty, politically motivated individuals and entities who seek to damage my reputation to gain financially and advance politically must stop. »
First lady Melania Trump speaks to reporters April 9, 2026, in the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
She said she and her husband, U.S. President Donald Trumpknew Epstein and his former associate, Ghislaine Maxwellbecause they frequented the same social circles, but insisted they were not friends and only communicated through “casual correspondence”, and reiterated that she was not a victim of the late sex offender.
“I am not Epstein's victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a party in New York in 1998. This first meeting with my husband is documented in detail in my book, Melanie, » » Trump said.
She later denied any knowledge of Epstein's misconduct and said any associations made between them were “false.”
It's unclear what exactly prompted Trump's statement.
His message comes as the Trump administration continues to face criticism since the deployment of Epstein Files started in December.
Ministry officials defended their handling of the files, saying they took care to make them public as quickly as possible, in accordance with the law, while protecting victims. Officials said errors were inevitable given the volume of the documents, the number of lawyers viewing the records and the speed with which the department had to release them.
The department said it was entitled to withhold records that revealed potential victims of abuse, were duplicates or were protected by legal privileges, or related to an ongoing criminal investigation.
Survivors have long campaigned for US lawmakers to hold Epstein accountable, for their day in court and for the release of the Epstein files. In November, a group of them spoke in Washington, D.C.in front a House vote to force the Justice Department to release all of its records.
During their appearance, Haley Robson, who claims Epstein abused her when she was a teenager, urged elected officials to combat sexual misconduct against underage girls and women, regardless of party lines.
“I implore every member of Congress, every representative, to step up and choose chaos. Choose the survivors, choose the children, protect the children. All children. You protect us all equally,” she said.
–– With files from Katie Scott of Global News
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