Melania Trump Publicly Distances Herself From Jeffrey Epstein In Bizarre Press Appearance

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In an unexpected press appearance, First Lady Melania Trump claimed that "the lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today" – a bizarre clarification given the lack of such an accusation at the time of her speech.

"I am not Epstein's victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump," she told reporters, adding that she and the president would attend some of the same parties as the late *** abuser. She also admitted to having exchanged an email with Epstein's now-imprisoned accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell at least once.

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"My email reply to Maxwell cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence," Trump said after claiming she was not friends with Epstein. "My polite reply to her email doesn't amount to anything more than a [trivial] note."

It's unclear if Trump's speech is meant to get ahead of a potential story related to her clarification. The first lady closed by calling on Congress to hold a public hearing "centered around the survivors" of Epstein's abuse.

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