WASHINGTON, D.C.: In an extraordinary statement made from the podium at the White House on April 9, First Lady Melania Trump denied ties to Jeffrey Epstein and knowledge of his sex crimes.

Calling the stories "completely false," she said the accusations about her involvement with the convicted sex offender were "smears about me."

Melania Trump said she and her attorneys were fighting back against the unfounded allegations regarding her connections to the late financier, who leveraged connections to the rich, powerful, and famous to recruit his victims and cover up his crimes.

"The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," she said. "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."

The unexpected message came at a time when her husband, President Donald Trump, and his administration had finally moved past more than a year of controversy over Jeffrey Epstein, especially since the Iran war had taken over attention in Washington.

The first lady's remarks are likely to bring the issue back into the political spotlight, even though the president had asked the public and media to move on. Her spokesperson, Nick Clemens, said the West Wing knew in advance that she would make a statement, but it's unclear if they knew exactly what she would say. The White House press office did not comment.

The first lady spoke for about five minutes, reading a prepared statement, and then left without taking questions. She did not go into details about the accusations against her but said they came from people trying to harm her reputation. She added that the accusations were driven by money and politics.

She also urged Congress to hold a public hearing focused on survivors of Epstein's crimes, so they could testify and have their stories officially recorded. She said every woman should have the chance to share her story publicly if she wants, and that only then would the truth come out.

Two of Epstein's accusers, Maria and Annie Farmer, later said they want accountability, transparency, and justice.

Former Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who once strongly supported Trump but later fell out with him, thanked the first lady for her statement about Epstein and his victims.

Democrats also responded positively to her call for a hearing. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee investigating Epstein, urged Republican chairman James Comer to hold a public hearing immediately.

Melania Trump also mentioned an email she had replied to, saying she had replied to Ghislaine Maxwell, calling it a simple, casual exchange. She said her polite response was just a trivial note.