US first lady Melania Trump has denied ever having a relationship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and says the claims about it are defaming her.
"The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," President Donald Trump's wife said in a rare address from the White House.
"The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect," she said.
"I do not object to their ignorance but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation".
She said she had never had a relationship with Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, with whom she said she had only a casual correspondence.
"I never been friends with Epstein. Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time, since overlapping in social circles is common in New York City," she said.
"To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell.
Epstein was arrested again in 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors.
He died in 2019 in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial.
New York City's medical examiner called the death a suicide.
Files released by the Justice Department on Epstein include a 2002 email from Melania Trump to Maxwell about a magazine piece on Epstein.
"You look great," the email says.
"My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a trifle," she said on Thursday.
"I am not Epstein's victim," she said.
The US first lady on Thursday also called on Congress to hold a public hearing centred on survivors of Epstein's crimes, with a chance to testify before lawmakers and have their stories entered into the congressional record.
"Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes," she said.
"Then, and only then, we will have the truth."
with AP
