Melania Trump's speech propels Epstein crisis back to forefront

• 01Melania Trump gave a statement at the White House podium stating: 'The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.'
• 02In her prepared statement, Melania Trump said she never had a relationship with Epstein or Maxwell, was not introduced to her husband by Epstein, and was unaware of Epstein's crimes.
• 03Melania Trump called for public congressional hearings for Epstein survivors to testify.
• 04President Donald Trump said he did not know in advance that Melania Trump was going to give the statement, contradicting an initial statement from the first lady's spokesperson.
• 05Thirteen Epstein survivors and the family of Virginia Roberts Giuffre released a statement saying that asking more of survivors was a deflection of responsibility, not justice.
• 06The Department of Justice released 3.5 million out of six million Epstein-related documents and stated there are legal limits on releasing the rest.
• 07House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer told Fox News that the committee planned to hold hearings with Epstein survivors once the committee finishes its investigation.
• 08Democrat Robert Garcia called on President Trump to release the remaining Epstein files and ensure that Pam Bondi testifies.
• 09President Trump previously called the Epstein files uproar a politically motivated hoax.

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Melania Trump delivered an unexpected statement at the White House on Thursday denying any connection to Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell and calling for congressional hearings with survivors. The announcement shifted media attention from Iran coverage and prompted varied reactions: some Epstein survivors criticized it as deflecting responsibility, while others praised her acknowledgment of victims; House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer said the committee would hold hearings. President Trump said he was unaware of the statement in advance, creating an apparent split between the president and first lady on the Epstein investigation.