U.S. first lady Melania Trump delivers remarks regarding the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein from the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S.,. REUTERS/Evan Vucci WASHINGTON,

The first lady's surprise statement about Jeffrey Epstein revives a sensitive issue, that President Donald Trump has sought to downplay.

I've never been friends with Epstein,” Melania Trump said in a speech on Thursday, while adding that she and Donald Trump were invited to the same parties as Epstein “from time to time.” “Overlapping in social circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach,

WASHINGTON—First lady Melania Trump denied having ties to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and called on Congress to hold a public hearing for his victims in a surprise announcement at the White House on Thursday.

"I am not Epstein's victim," the first lady claimed in a bizarre speech that appeared to get ahead of a potential story tying her with the late *** abuser.

The White House declined to comment on the timing of a statement that seems likely to once more focus attention on the Epstein case.

Read the full transcript of first lady Melania Trump's statement of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

First lady Melania Trump is denying ties to Jeffrey Epstein and knowledge of his sex crimes, saying Thursday that the “stories are completely false” and calling accusations that she was somehow involved “smears about me.