Melania Trump denies ties to Epstein and urges Congress to hold hearing with survivors

Melania Trump denied any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and urged Congress to hold public hearings for survivors; several survivors released a statement criticizing the call.

Melania Trump delivered a six-minute livestreamed statement from the White House addressing records released by the Justice Department related to Jeffrey Epstein. She denied any personal relationship with Epstein and said she was not a victim. In the statement she called on Congress to convene public hearings centered on survivors and to accept sworn testimony for the congressional record. The remarks came after news reporting and public releases of documents that included past contacts between the first lady and people connected to Epstein. Key developments: - The first lady said Epstein did not introduce her to Donald Trump, denied being his victim, and stated she had no knowledge of his criminal conduct. - She asked Congress to provide survivors a public hearing with the opportunity to testify under oath and to have that testimony entered into the congressional record. - Rep. Robert Garcia of California said he welcomed the call and noted lawmakers had sought survivor testimony; President Trump said he was not aware of the statement before it was delivered. - More than a dozen survivors issued a statement saying additional public testimony would shift the burden onto survivors and called the request a deflection of responsibility. Summary: The first lady's public denial and her call for congressional hearings produced mixed responses from lawmakers and survivors. Undetermined at this time.