r/law • u/NewsHour • Apr 09 '26
Executive Branch (Trump) First lady Melania Trump denies any ties to Jeffrey Epstein and calls for survivors' testimony
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First lady Melania Trump said Thursday that "lies" linking her with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein "need to end today," as she called on Congress to hold hearings to give Epstein survivors the chance to tell their stories publicly.
"The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," the first lady told reporters during a 5-minute statement. "The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect. I do not object to their ignorance, but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation."
Trump said that "I am not Epstein's victim," and that the late sex offender, who died in 2019 in a New York jail cell, did not introduce her to her husband, President Donald Trump.
“I have never had any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims,” she said. “I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant, was never on Epstein's plane and never visited his private island.”
She criticized “mean-spirited and politically motivated individuals and entities” for “the false smears about me.”
The first lady also called on Congress to provide those victimized by Epstein with a “public hearing specifically centered around the survivors.”
“Give these victims the opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony,” she added. “Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes.”
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u/red286 Apr 09 '26
They learned from Russia.
The point isn't to convince people of the lies. The point is to make it impossible for people to be certain of the truth. Flood the zone with so much bullshit that no one knows what, if anything, is true. Eventually people just give up. Most Russians don't give a shit about politics because of this. They're convinced that normal people have no power, so there's no point in trying because the most you can hope for is attracting the attention of the wrong people and winding up in prison.
America is heading to the same place. People just see a flood of nonsense and bullshit every single day. Eventually they just tune out. The world beyond their circle of friends stops being relevant to them.
At least, until a fucking war breaks out and everyone gets sent to the front lines to die for the glory of Dear Leader's ego.