First lady Melania Trump has issued a surprise public statement denying any meaningful ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and calling for the U.S. Congress to hold a public hearing focused on survivors of his abuse. The announcement, delivered at the White House on Thursday, April 9, 2026, marks a rare public intervention by the first lady on a matter of criminal justice and survivors’ rights.
During the press conference, Mrs. Trump stated that she was not a victim of Epstein, had no knowledge of his crimes, and that Epstein did not introduce her to President Donald Trump. She urged legislative action to provide a platform for those harmed by Epstein’s network, stating, “Epstein was not alone. 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.”
The call for a congressional hearing has elicited a complex range of responses from Epstein survivors, with some viewing the gesture as a brave step toward transparency and others condemning it as a tactical deflection that risks retraumatizing victims. The divide highlights a deeper tension between the desire for public accountability and the psychological toll of repeated testimony.
Survivor Reactions: Between Hope and Retraumatization
The response from those who survived Epstein’s abuse has been deeply fractured. A group of 15 survivors released a joint statement arguing that the first lady’s call for a hearing is a “deflection of responsibility” rather than a pursuit of justice. The group asserted that the first lady is “shifting the burden” onto survivors to protect powerful entities, including the Department of Justice, law enforcement, and the current administration.
“Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward, filing reports, and giving testimony,” the statement read. “Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility, not justice.”
Marina Lacerda, who was identified in a 2019 indictment as Minor-Victim 1, echoed these concerns through a social media post. Lacerda questioned the utility of such a hearing, suggesting it would serve only to retraumatize victims without producing meaningful outcomes.
Conversely, some survivors expressed a willingness to participate. Alicia Arden, who reported being assaulted by Epstein while working as a young model, described the first lady’s statement as brave and expressed her own eagerness to testify. “I’m willing to testify before Congress about what Jeffrey Epstein did to me and how I was attacked in the room,” Arden said.
Arden also suggested that the first lady’s presence at such a hearing could be beneficial. “If Melania would like to be with us, I reckon that would be nice and helpful if we were … testifying next to her.”
The Legal Landscape and the ‘Missing’ Files
The debate over a public hearing occurs against a backdrop of ongoing tension regarding the Department of Justice’s release of Epstein-related documents. While millions of pages have been made public, revealing a vast network of connections, critics argue that key information remains obscured.
An investigation conducted in February revealed that certain documents naming President Trump were initially withheld from the public files, though some were later released. To date, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell remain the only individuals listed in the files to have faced criminal charges, despite the mention of numerous high-profile figures.
The Department of Justice has maintained its standard position, encouraging any survivors with information on abusers to contact the FBI or federal law enforcement. However, legal representatives for survivors, such as attorney Gloria Allred—who has represented 27 survivors—emphasize that any potential hearing must be voluntary. Allred warned against the use of subpoenas, stating that survivors should maintain control over their own decisions.
Current Status of Epstein-Related Legal Actions
| Entity | Current Action/Position | Outcome/Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Justice | Released millions of pages of files | Only Epstein and Maxwell charged |
| Melania Trump | Called for survivor-centered hearing | Awaiting Congressional response |
| House Oversight Committee | Requested to schedule hearing | Chairman Comer has not responded |
| Survivors Group (15) | Opposed “burden-shifting” hearings | Public statement issued April 2026 |
Bipartisan Support in Congress
Despite the mixed reactions from survivors, the first lady’s call to action has found immediate support among members of Congress from both parties. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, has urged the committee’s chairman, Representative James Comer (R-KY), to “schedule a public hearing immediately.”
Similarly, Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC), who has identified herself as a survivor, commended the statement as “momentous.” In a public statement, Mace noted, “As a survivor, this isn’t political, it’s personal and when the First Lady of the United States stands up and demands justice for Epstein’s victims, it is truly momentous.”
The request for a hearing now rests with Chairman Comer, who has not yet responded to requests for comment. For many survivors, the question remains whether such a proceeding would lead to new criminal charges or simply serve as a public exercise in storytelling.
Disclaimer: This article covers matters involving legal proceedings and the trauma of sexual abuse. For those seeking support, resources such as the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline (RAINN) provide confidential assistance.
The next critical checkpoint will be the response from the House Oversight Committee regarding the scheduling of a hearing. Whether the White House will further clarify the first lady’s role in these proceedings remains unknown.
We invite readers to share their perspectives on the balance between public accountability and survivor privacy in the comments below.
