Melania Trump denies Epstein ties

In her first public remarks on the subject, the first lady insisted that her only contact with Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell was 'casual correspondence.' She also called on Congress to hold public hearings to allow Epstein's victims to testify on Capitol Hill, a move that has drawn mixed reactions from survivors.

President Trump later claimed he was unaware of his wife's planned statement, though he defended her right to 'set the record straight.' The surprise address has thrust the Epstein scandal back into the center of the political conversation just as the administration seeks to move past the controversy.