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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Brendan Rascius,Graig Graziosi and Joe Sommerlad

Trump ‘didn’t know anything’ about Melania’s impromptu Epstein speech: Live updates

Melania Trump Jeffrey Epstein White House (Facility)

First lady Melania Trump has emphatically denied any connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and called on Congress to invite survivors to give testimony during a surprise televised address from the White House.

“I’ve never been friends with Epstein,” she said. “I have never had any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims.”

She went on to condemn what she called “unfounded and baseless lies” and “false smears” against her from “politically-motivated individuals and entities,” who have sought to “gain financially and climb politically.”

The first lady said she met Epstein as a result of “overlapping in social circles” and only kept up a “casual correspondence” with Ghislaine Maxwell.

In response, more than a dozen survivors accused her of “shifting the burden” onto them and again called on the Department of Justice to release the remaining Epstein files.

President Donald Trump subsequently told a reporter he had not known in advance what his wife Melania would be speaking about while members the House Oversight Committee investigating Epstein echoed her calls for a public hearing.

The first lady’s remarks surprised many, not least because focus on the scandal has largely subsided amid the ongoing war in Iran.

Key Points

  • Jeffrey Epstein survivors issue accuse Melania Trump of 'shifting burden' of justice onto them
  • First lady uses White House podium to deny any connection to Epstein
  • Trump reportedly said he had no idea wife planned to speak about late sex offender
  • Read the key quotes from Melania Trump's address
  • First lady addresses email exchange with Ghislaine Maxwell

Watch: Melania Trump denies relationship with Epstein in unexpected public statement

11:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s the first lady’s surprise speech in full, if you’re just joining us.

Melania ‘increasingly frustrated with the online chatter’ about Epstein

11:00 , Joe Sommerlad

We heard earlier from CNN’s White House correspondent Kristen Holmes, who said some senior administrations were left “stunned” by the first lady’s remarks, feeling there was no need for her to have resurrected the issue as the story had largely died down.

Holmes subsequently told anchor Erin Burnett that further conversations with insiders had revealed that others were “less surprised” given Melania’s private frustrations about online allegations against her, which was what had prompted her to finally come out and make a definitive statement.

Melania is ‘breaking with Trump because she knows the ship is sinking,’ says Alex Jones

10:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Obviously any interpretation the notorious conspiracy theorist and InfoWars host might offer should be taken with a very large pinch of salt but he is, if nothing else, a keen observer of Trumpworld.

Here’s his dashboard analysis of the first lady’s press conference.

CNN's data guru says Americans aren't fans of first lady Melania Trump

10:00 , Graig Graziosi

On Thursday, CNN data guru Harry Enten shared polling data concerning First Lady Melania Trump’s popularity with the American public.

“The America people really don't care for Melania Trump,” he wrote on X. “She's at her lowest net approval ever (-12 pts). She's the most unpopular first lady at this point in either term 2 or a presidency. And despite a strong open, her doc was a bomb unless Amazon makes up a lot in streaming.”

Enten’s post was made prior to the first lady’s statement at the White House on Thursday afternoon.

Analysis: What could have prompted Melania Trump’s sudden and unexpected statement on Epstein?

09:30 , Graig Graziosi

Just when you thought Donald Trump had bombed enough of the Middle East to blow the Epstein files right out of public memory, his wife came out with a statement this afternoon. And what a statement it was.

With no explanatory preamble, Melania Trump spoke from the White House podium about how she is “not Epstein’s victim,” was not introduced to her husband by Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, and about how she “never visited his private island.”

“I was never involved in any capacity,” she added. “I was not a participant.”

Holly Baxter reports.

What could have prompted Melania Trump’s sudden and unexpected statement on Epstein?

ICYMI: Justice Department says Pam Bondi won’t appear at Epstein hearing after Trump fired her

09:00 , Graig Graziosi

FromThe Independent’s Alex Woodward:

Now-former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not comply with a subpoena for her testimony to members of Congress about Department of Justice investigations into Jeffrey Epstein after Donald Trump removed her from office last week.

In a letter to the House Oversight Committee, the Justice Department said Bondi will not appear for her previously scheduled deposition despite a subpoena for her testimony about the federal government’s handling of the cases against the late sex offender.

“The Department of Justice has stated Pam Bondi will not appear on April 14 for a deposition since she is no longer Attorney General and was subpoenaed in her capacity as Attorney General,” a committee spokesperson told The Independent. “The Committee will contact Pam Bondi’s personal counsel to discuss next steps regarding scheduling her deposition.”

READ MORE:

DOJ says Pam Bondi won’t appear at Epstein hearing after Trump fired her

House Oversight Democrat calls for first lady to testify before Congress

08:00 , Graig Graziosi

Democratic Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, a member of the House Oversight Committee, said on Thursday that First Lady Melania Trump should testify before Congress if she wants to clear up her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

“Honestly, if she want’s to clear her name, she should come testify before a committee herself, under oath,” Subramanyam told CNN on Thursday evening.

He said that, following the first lady’s remarks, it’s within reason for Congress to ask for her to testify under oath.

The congressman also said he thinks the first lady may be underestimating the optics of her emails with Maxwell.

"I think she understates the friendliness of the emails she had with Ghislaine Maxwell," he said. “There’s pictures of her with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, it’s clear there was a relationship there. If Donald Trump was close with them I imagine she would be too.”

Melania Trump's Epstein statements baffle even Fox News

07:00 , Graig Graziosi

Fox News senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich tried to make sense of the first lady’s comments about her alleged connection to Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday evening.

“We’ve been trying to understand why she made it today, if there was something that she is reacting to that might already be in the news that has upset her, or if there’s a story that’s yet to come out, that’s about to drop that she wanted to get ahead of,” Heinrich said on Thursday, adding that it “did feel like it came out of left field for us.”

She continued, saying that she and others at the network are “still trying to figure out why she made this statement today.”

“I’ve called every contact in my phone, including the president, and not gotten any answers,” she said.

Epstein survivors issue joint statement accusing Melania Trump of 'shifting burden' of justice onto them

06:00 , Graig Graziosi

More than a dozen Epstein survivors signed onto a joint letter on Thursday responding to First Lady Melania Trump’s remarks calling on Congress to let them testify.

“Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward, filing reports, and giving testimony. Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility, not justice,” the letter says.

It continued, accusing the first lady of “shifting the burden onto survivors under politicized conditions that protect those with power: the Department of Justice, law enforcement, prosecutors, and the Trump Administration, which has still not fully complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.”

“It also diverts attention from Pam Bondi, who must answer for withheld files and the exposure of survivors’ identities. Those failures continue to put lives at risk while shielding enablers,” the letter continues. “Survivors have done their part. Now it’s time for those in power to do theirs.”

First Lady Melania Trump's inner circle was reportedly split on whether or not she should address Epstein comments

04:59 , Graig Graziosi

CNN’s senior White House correspondent Kristen Holmes reports that there was apparently some disagreement between First Lady Melania Trump’s inner circle as to whether or not she should go through with her Thursday Epstein address.

“Some White House officials were stunned by the timing of the First Lady's remarks, which sparked rumors that she was trying to get out ahead of something,” she wrote on Thursday evening.

“One official said there was disagreement among those close to Melania Trump as to whether or not to go through with the remarks, given that the story had died down. But stories linking the first lady to Epstein were still circulating online, and Melania Trump wanted to go on the record with a firm denial, the official said.”

Roger Stone insists Epstein had no connection to Trump and Melania's relationship

04:30 , Graig Graziosi

Roger Stone, a long-time Republican operative and recipient of a Trump presidential pardon, rushed to defend First Lady Melania Trump on Thursday following her remarks about Jeffrey Epstein.

He said he worked for President Donald Trump when he first began dating Melania and insisted Epstein had nothing to do with their initial meeting.

"I was working for Donald Trump in New York when he was first dating Melania. Epstein was not involved in ANY way. The smears on this incredibly kind cultured and courageous First Lady are outrageous," he said in an X post.

Earlier in the day, Trump told MS NOW reporter Jacqueline Alemany that his wife did not know Epstein.

Congressman Robert Garcia said he was as shocked as anyone by First Lady Melania Trump's Epstein address

04:00 , Graig Graziosi

Congressman Robert Garcia, a Democrat and a member of the House Oversight Committee, told CNN's Erin Burnett that he and other lawmakers were just as taken aback by First Lady Melania Trump's comments about Jeffrey Epstein as the rest of the nation.

He said he did not know why she chose Thursday to make her case, and wondered if there is "information that she may be aware of that [lawmakers] are not."

"So no, it was actually pretty stunning to see these remarks," he said.

Melania Trump's senior adviser says she spoke out because 'enough is enough'

03:30 , Graig Graziosi

Marc Beckman, who serves as a senior adviser to First Lady Melania Trump, told the New York Post on Thursday that she “spoke out now because enough is enough.”

Beckman said that the “lies” about the first lady’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell “must stop.”

“It is time for the public and media to focus on her incredible achievements as first lady, the lives she has positively impacted, and her commitment to our nation,” he said.

House Oversight Democrat calls for 'immediate' hearing following Melania Trump's Epstein address

03:00 , Graig Graziosi

Congressman Robert Garcia, a top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said he agreed with First Lady Melania Trump’s call for another congressional hearing on Jeffrey Epstein that includes testimony from the Epstein survivors.

“We agree with First Lady Melania Trump’s call for a public hearing with the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein. We encourage Chairman Comer to respond to the First Lady’s request and schedule a public hearing immediately,” he wrote on Thursday.

ICYMI: New interim AG Todd Blanche says Pam Bondi’s firing not connected to Epstein files — and says no more will be released

02:30 , Graig Graziosi

On Thursday, First Lady Melania Trump distanced herself from Jeffrey Epstein and called on Congress to provide the Epstein survivors with a chance to testify.

In response, more than a dozen Epstein survivors signed onto a letter calling for accountability, justice, and the release of all the remaining Epstein files.

Almost a week before the first lady’s comments, interim Attorney General Todd Blanche said there would be no new Epstein files released, and also insisted that his predecessor, Pam Bondi, was not fired because of her handling of the Epstein case.

READ MORE:

New attorney general says he isn’t releasing any more Epstein files

Congressman Tom Massie responds to Melania Trump remarks by calling for prosecutions

02:00 , Graig Graziosi

Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who has become a leading critic of President Donald Trump’s policies, said lawmakers have already provided a venue for Epstein survivors to tell their “horrific” stories, and said it’s now the Justice Department’s turn to do act.

His comments were made in the aftermath of First Lady Melania Trump’s remarks on Thursday.

“First Lady asks Congress to bring Epstein survivors in for testimony. With all due respect, that’s @DAGToddBlanche’s job!” he said.

He continued:

“@RepRoKhanna & I already gave brave survivors a chance to tell their horrific stories on Capitol Hill. @PamBondi wouldn’t even acknowledge them. PROSECUTE!”

First Lady Melania Trump shares a transcript of her speech distancing herself from Epstein

01:56 , Graig Graziosi

On Thursday night, hours after her comments distancing herself from Jeffrey Epstein, First Lady Melania Trump shared a transcript of her speech on social media.

She shared the message on both the official “@FLOTUS” account and her own personal account.

She did not provide an explanation for why she felt it necessary to address the online speculation now.

New poll shows disastrous approval rating for Melania Trump

01:30 , Graig Graziosi

Melania Trump reportedly has been increasingly upset about online discussion regarding her and Epstein

01:29 , Graig Graziosi

CNN senior White House correspondent Kristen Holmes said on Thursday that sources close to the first lady were less surprised by her Jeffrey Epstein comments.

According to Holmes, the insiders claim that the first lady has become increasingly frustrated by online discussion of her connection to Epstein.

“I am told by people who are close to her that they were a little bit less surprised because in private, Melania Trump has been growing increasingly frustrated with the online chatter about her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, and she's never actually come out and flat out denied it,” Holmes said.

Alex Jones suggests first lady might be turning on Trump over Epstein

Friday 10 April 2026 00:53 , Graig Graziosi

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones insinuated that First Lady Melania Trump might be “turning” on her husband over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

On Thursday, Jones responded to a scathing rant Trump issued on Truth Social targeting himself and other right-wing commentators including Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson, and Megyn Kelly, all of whom have criticized the war in Iran.

During his rebuttal, Jones said that Trump has “ totally changed,” and said he was acting “like a supervillain” by threatening to destroy Iran’s entire civilization.

He also remarked on the first lady’s comments about Epstein, and suggested that she might be turning on the president.

“That said, [Trump’s Truth Social post] followed just a few hours after Melania Trump came out, unannounced — reportedly Trump didn't know — and said she wasn't involved with Epstein and that she supports a full investigation by Congress into the Epstein cover-up. Trump said Epstein is a hoax! So this reminds me of when Melinda Gates turned against Bill, also over Epstein,” Jones said.

He continued, saying that “ Trump's got BIG problems folks.”

Melania Trump's former chief of staff says it's 'b.s.' that Trump was unaware of Epstein remarks

Friday 10 April 2026 00:23 , Graig Graziosi

Stephanie Grisham, First Lady Melania Trump’s former chief of staff, told CNN that she believes the president was lying when he said he did not know his wife would remark on Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday.

“I’m gonna say, I call b.s. on our president saying he knew nothing about it, because at the very least I imagine [the first lady] would have given him a heads up if she had sent an advisory out yesterday,” Grisham said on CNN’s The Lead.

She also said that Thursday’s remarks were likely not off-the-cuff, claiming the first lady is typically very strategic in her communications.

"Melania Trump thinks about everything she does and she thinks about it for a very long time, and she does things very strategically. She knew full well that walking out there, into the White House residence, behind that podium like that would make absolute waves,” Grisham said.

“And so she chose this time — again, I don't know why... But she chose this very specifically and she definitely thought on it for a few days.”

When asked if Trump could have stopped the first lady from speaking out even if he'd wanted to, Grisham said "absolutely not."

"She's a a very strong, very independent woman," Grisham said.

ICYMI: Justice Department says Pam Bondi won’t appear at Epstein hearing after Trump fired her

Friday 10 April 2026 00:00 , Graig Graziosi

FromThe Independent’s Alex Woodward:

Now-former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not comply with a subpoena for her testimony to members of Congress about Department of Justice investigations into Jeffrey Epstein after Donald Trump removed her from office last week.

In a letter to the House Oversight Committee, the Justice Department said Bondi will not appear for her previously scheduled deposition despite a subpoena for her testimony about the federal government’s handling of the cases against the late sex offender.

“The Department of Justice has stated Pam Bondi will not appear on April 14 for a deposition since she is no longer Attorney General and was subpoenaed in her capacity as Attorney General,” a committee spokesperson told The Independent. “The Committee will contact Pam Bondi’s personal counsel to discuss next steps regarding scheduling her deposition.”

READ MORE:

DOJ says Pam Bondi won’t appear at Epstein hearing after Trump fired her

Epstein survivors issue joint statement accusing Melania Trump of 'shifting burden' of justice onto them

Thursday 9 April 2026 23:45 , Graig Graziosi

More than a dozen Epstein survivors signed onto a joint letter on Thursday responding to First Lady Melania Trump’s remarks calling on Congress to let them testify.

“Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward, filing reports, and giving testimony. Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility, not justice,” the letter says.

It continued, accusing the first lady of “shifting the burden onto survivors under politicized conditions that protect those with power: the Department of Justice, law enforcement, prosecutors, and the Trump Administration, which has still not fully complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.”

“It also diverts attention from Pam Bondi, who must answer for withheld files and the exposure of survivors’ identities. Those failures continue to put lives at risk while shielding enablers,” the letter continues. “Survivors have done their part. Now it’s time for those in power to do theirs.”

House Oversight Democrat calls for first lady to testify before Congress

Thursday 9 April 2026 23:30 , Graig Graziosi

Democratic Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, a member of the House Oversight Committee, said on Thursday that First Lady Melania Trump should testify before Congress if she wants to clear up her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

“Honestly, if she want’s to clear her name, she should come testify before a committee herself, under oath,” Subramanyam told CNN on Thursday evening.

He said that, following the first lady’s remarks, it’s within reason for Congress to ask for her to testify under oath.

The congressman also said he thinks the first lady may be underestimating the optics of her emails with Maxwell.

"I think she understates the friendliness of the emails she had with Ghislaine Maxwell," he said. “There’s pictures of her with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, it’s clear there was a relationship there. If Donald Trump was close with them I imagine she would be too.”

Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein conflicted about Melania Trump's remarks

Thursday 9 April 2026 23:11 , Graig Graziosi

From The Independent’s senior Washington Correspondent Eric Garcia:

Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein were conflicted about First Lady Melania Trump's surprising remarks denying that she had any connection to the late convicted sex offender.

The first lady shocked many when she delivered the remarks and condemned "unfounded and baseless lies" about her association with Epstein.

This came despite the fact that emails show she corresponded with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's partner and conspirator.

Haley Robson, one survivor, had only one response.

"I was hysterically laughing," she told The Independent. "She was trying to make it sound like it didn't happen. And I'm like, I don't know why you guys keep lying. We clearly see that there's something wrong."

Many of the Epstein survivors lobbied for Congress to release the files related to him. The House and Senate passed the legislation almost unanimously.

"They're trying to move on from a terrible situation that happened to all of us girls, all of us children," Robson said.

During her remarks, the first lady said that she wanted Congress to have a hearing focused solely on survivors. Lisa Phillips, another survivor, told The Independent she was surprised about the remarks.

"I don't know why, or if it's a trap or whatever it is, but she's coming off like she's on our side," Phillips told The Independent. "And then she also said that each one of us has our day to tell our public our story in public. I mean, that's huge for the survivors. No one's ever given us that."

But Maria and Annie Farmer, both survivors of Epstein, criticized Trump's statement."We can’t speak for other survivors, but what we want is accountability, transparency, and justice," they said in a statement.

"The federal government has long mismanaged the Epstein investigation by repeatedly ignoring survivors, violating their privacy, and refusing to release the remaining records held by the Department of Justice — including my complete FBI records from 1996. If the federal government is truly committed to supporting survivors, it would ask us what we want and should follow the facts wherever they may lead."

Robson said she would be undeterred.

"They can keep trying to throw everything at the wall to get it to stick," she said. The only thing that's sticking around is going to be the survivors and our attorneys."

CNN's data guru says Americans aren't fans of First Lady Melania Trump

Thursday 9 April 2026 23:06 , Graig Graziosi

On Thursday, CNN data guru Harry Enten shared polling data concerning First Lady Melania Trump’s popularity with the American public.

“The America people really don't care for Melania Trump,” he wrote on X. “She's at her lowest net approval ever (-12 pts). She's the most unpopular first lady at this point in either term 2 or a presidency. And despite a strong open, her doc was a bomb unless Amazon makes up a lot in streaming.”

Enten’s post was made prior to the first lady’s statement at the White House on Thursday afternoon.

Melania Trump's Epstein statements baffle even Fox News

Thursday 9 April 2026 22:45 , Graig Graziosi

Fox News senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich tried to make sense of the first lady’s comments about her alleged connection to Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday evening.

“We’ve been trying to understand why she made it today, if there was something that she is reacting to that might already be in the news that has upset her, or if there’s a story that’s yet to come out, that’s about to drop that she wanted to get ahead of,” Heinrich said on Thursday, adding that it “did feel like it came out of left field for us.”

She continued, saying that she and others at the network are “still trying to figure out why she made this statement today.”

“I’ve called every contact in my phone, including the president, and not gotten any answers,” she said.

Epstein survivors issue call for release of remaining files after first lady's remarks

Thursday 9 April 2026 22:38 , Graig Graziosi

Maria and Annie Farmer, both Epstein survivors, issued the following statement today following First Lady Melania Trump’s remarks.

“We can’t speak for other survivors, but what we want is accountability, transparency, and justice. The federal government has long mismanaged the Epstein investigation by repeatedly ignoring survivors, violating their privacy, and refusing to release the remaining records held by the Department of Justice — including my complete FBI records from 1996,” the statement said.

“If the federal government is truly committed to supporting survivors, it would ask us what we want and should follow the facts wherever they may lead.”

Thomas Massie calls on DOJ to act after first lady's remarks

Thursday 9 April 2026 22:20 , Brendan Rascius

Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, reacted to First Lady Melania Trump’s remarks by calling on the Department of Justice to act.

“First Lady asks Congress to bring Epstein survivors in for testimony,” Massie wrote on X.

“With all due respect,” he wrote, that is the job of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Trump reportedly said he had no idea first lady would speak about Epstein

Thursday 9 April 2026 22:10 , Graig Graziosi

MS NOW reporter Jacqueline Alemany said on Thursday evening that she had spoken to President Donald Trump following the first lady’s address.

She said Trump claimed he did not know she was going to speak about Epstein, and said his wife did not know Epstein.

“Just got off a quick call w President Trump who said he didnt ‘know anything about’ FLOTUS’ statement prior to her on camera appearance, but that he was in a meeting about the war & couldn’t speak further. ‘She didn’t know him,’ he added before hanging up, referring to Epstein,” Alemany said.

Some of Melania Trump's aides were not aware of what she was going to say: report

Thursday 9 April 2026 22:08 , Brendan Rascius

While a number of the first lady’s aides were gathered to watch her White House address, several were not aware of what she was going to say, according to NBC News.

Social media users express confusion over Melania Trump's Epstein remarks

Thursday 9 April 2026 21:50 , Brendan Rascius

A number of social media users expressed bewilderment at the first lady’s out-of-the-blue remarks about Jeffrey Epstein, with many noting that the Epstein controversy had largely been overshadowed by the war in Iran.

“I’m so confused by this,” one X user wrote. “Who at the White House thought it was a good idea to resurrect the Epstein story right now?”

“This was so random,” wrote another. “To my knowledge, there was no notable discourse recently about Melania's ties to Epstein. All eyes have been on the Iran War. What prompted this?”

Analysis: What the first lady did — and didn't — call for

Thursday 9 April 2026 21:30 , Alex Woodward

Republican members of Congress had so far avoided hearing testimony from survivors of Epstein’s abuse. Now-former Attorney General Pam Bondi refused to even look them in the face when she testified to the House Judiciary Committee in February.

Now the First Lady is publicly calling on lawmakers to hear from them. But she didn’t call on now-acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to act, after Bondi came under fire for refusing to prosecute Epstein’s co-conspirators. She didn’t tell DOJ to complete the release of the Epstein files after Blanche said they were done with them. And she didn’t tell prosecutors to meet with survivors despite their pleas.

ANALYSIS: What could have prompted Melania Trump’s sudden and unexpected statement on Epstein?

Thursday 9 April 2026 21:13 , Brendan Rascius

Just when you thought Donald Trump had bombed enough of the Middle East to blow the Epstein files right out of public memory, his wife came out with a statement this afternoon. And what a statement it was.

With no explanatory preamble, Melania Trump spoke from the White House podium about how she is “not Epstein’s victim,” was not introduced to her husband by Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, and about how she “never visited his private island.”

“I was never involved in any capacity,” she added. “I was not a participant.”

Holly Baxter reports...

What could have prompted Melania Trump’s sudden and unexpected statement on Epstein?

Republican lawmaker says Epstein co-conspirators will be brought in to testify

Thursday 9 April 2026 21:05 , Brendan Rascius

Following the first lady’s remarks, a Republican lawmaker has said that several of Jeffrey Epstein's co-conspirators will be brought before the House Oversight Committee to testify.

“Chairman Comer has agreed to call these 4 named co-conspirators in to testify, and they won’t be the only ones,” Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna wrote on X. “There are a number of doctors we also have questions for, and the list continues to grow.”

She reposted footage of the first lady’s press conference, during which she said: “Several prominent male executives resigned from their powerful positions after this matter became widely politicized. Of course, this doesn't amount to guilt, but we still must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth.”

'I am moved by the words:' Nancy Mace thanks Melania Trump for her remarks

Thursday 9 April 2026 20:59 , Brendan Rascius

Rep. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, thanked the first lady for her remarks.

“I am moved by the words of @FLOTUS today regarding Epstein,” Mace, one of just four Republicans who signed a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files, wrote on X.

“First Lady, you have my word I'll continue to fight for the women who have been victimized by this monster,” she added.

Melania Trump spoke out now 'because enough is enough,' adviser says

Thursday 9 April 2026 20:45 , Brendan Rascius

A senior adviser to the first lady said that she “spoke out now because enough is enough.”

“The lies must stop,” Marc Beckman told The New York Post. “It is time for the public and media to focus on her incredible achievements as First Lady.”

Ro Khanna echoes first lady's call for a public hearing

Thursday 9 April 2026 20:42 , Brendan Rascius

Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, was one of several lawmakers to echo the first lady’s calls for a public hearing featuring the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein.

He wrote on X that he, Rep. Thomas Massie and Rep. Nancy Mace “have been calling for this for months.”

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