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Former attorney general Pam Bondi refused to appear at a congressional hearing about the Epstein Files. First Lady Melania Trump gave a press conference to deny that she knew about Epstein’s abuse. What we're learning about Epstein’s connections to powerful people.
Vicky Ward,she writes the SubstackVicky Ward Investigates.Former Senior Reporter at CNN. She co-produced the docu-series “Chasing Ghislaine." She published the article “The Talented Mr. Epstein” in Vanity Fair in 2003.
The version of our broadcast available at the top of this page and via podcast apps is a condensed version of the full show. You can listen to the full, unedited broadcast here:
Part I
MEGHNA CHAKRABARTI: First Lady Melania Trump almost never speaks to the press, but late last week, she surprised everyone with a hastily announced press conference where she dredged up the last story that her husband's administration wants back in the limelight.
MELANIA TRUMP: 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 and Palm Beach. To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice Maxwell.
CHAKRABARTI: The first lady's denial of any kind of relationship with human trafficker and serial sexual abuser Jeffrey Epstein is contradicted by emails between her and Epstein's partner, Ghislaine Maxwell. But that's actually been known for some time. The first lady instead pointed to legal documents as proof of her distance from Maxwell and Epstein.
MELANIA TRUMP: I'm not a witness or a name witness in connection with any of Epstein's crimes. My name has never appeared in court documents, depositions, victim statements, or FBI in interviews surrounding the Epstein matter. I have never had any knowledge of Epstein abuse of his victims. I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant, was never on Epstein's plane and never visited his private island.
CHAKRABARTI: And then in that same press conference, the First Lady shifted focus.
MELANIA TRUMP: Now is the time for Congress to act. Epstein was not alone. 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 call on Congress to provide the women who have been victimized by Epstein with a public hearing, specifically centered around the survivors. Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath, in front of Congress, with the power of sworn testimony.
CHAKRABARTI: Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, of course, have been lobbying publicly and hard for some time.
They say they've done their work and it's Congress's turn to ask the big questions. Now, of course, the really big question raised by last week's press conference is why First Lady Melania Trump stepped in front of a microphone at all out of the blue. President Donald Trump later told the New York Times that he knew the statement was coming and, quote, it doesn't bother me.
