Key insights
- Melania Trump denies any close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, calling claims defamatory. While the news itself has limited direct market impact, the broader Epstein saga and its political ramifications could indirectly influence market sentiment, particularly if it implicates individuals or institutions with significant economic ties. The call for a congressional hearing adds a layer of political uncertainty.
Investing.com -- First Lady Melania Trump on Thursday issued a statement denying any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and called claims linking her to the disgraced financier defamatory.
Trump stated she first met Epstein in 2000 at an event she attended with President Donald Trump. She said Epstein did not introduce her to her husband, whom she met by chance at a New York City party in 1998.
The first lady said she was never friends with Epstein and only attended the same parties as him occasionally due to overlapping social circles in New York City and Palm Beach. She also denied having a relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s accomplice, characterizing an email reply to Maxwell as casual correspondence.
Trump said she has never been named as a witness in connection with Epstein’s crimes and that her name has not appeared in court documents, depositions, victim statements, or FBI interviews related to the matter. She stated she had no knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of victims and was never on his plane or at his private island.
The first lady said her attorneys have successfully fought what she called unfounded lies, noting that The Daily Beast, James Carville, and Harper Collins UK have been legally required to publicly apologize and retract statements about her.
Trump called on Congress to provide Epstein’s victims with a public hearing where they can testify under oath. She said several prominent male executives resigned after the matter became politicized and emphasized the need for transparency to uncover the truth.
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