Melania Trump Denies Ties to Epstein, Lawmaker Urges Testimony

Congressmember calls for former First Lady to testify before oversight committee over Epstein probe

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:54am

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A serene, cinematic painting of a dimly lit, empty government office interior with a single chair and desk, conveying a sense of political tension and unease.As the Epstein scandal continues to cast a long shadow over the Trump legacy, the former First Lady's potential testimony could further complicate the political fallout.NYC Today

A U.S. lawmaker is urging former First Lady Melania Trump to testify before Congress over the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, citing emails and photos linking her to Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Melania Trump has denied any close relationship with Epstein, but the congressman argues she should publicly tell her side of the story under oath. Around a dozen Epstein survivors have opposed Melania's proposal for public hearings, saying they've already testified enough and it's up to the Justice Department to follow through.

Why it matters

The Epstein case has long been a political lightning rod, with allegations and disclosures continuing to roil the Trump administration. Melania Trump's potential testimony could shed new light on the former president's ties to Epstein, a convicted sex offender, and further complicate the legacy of the Trump White House.

The details

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, a Democratic congressman from Virginia, is urging Melania Trump to testify before the House Oversight Committee about her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Subramanyam cited emails and photos linking Melania to Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, arguing that if Melania wants to clear her name, she should do so publicly under oath. The congressman noted a precedent of former first ladies like Hillary Clinton being forced to testify on Capitol Hill.

  • On Thursday, Melania Trump publicly denied any close friendship with Epstein.
  • In 2002, Melania Trump sent an email to Ghislaine Maxwell about a New York Magazine piece on Epstein.

The players

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam

A Democratic congressman from Virginia who is urging Melania Trump to testify before Congress about her ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Melania Trump

The former First Lady who has denied any close relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but is facing calls to testify about her connections to him and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

Jeffrey Epstein

The convicted sex offender whose ties to powerful figures like Donald Trump have long been a political controversy.

Ghislaine Maxwell

Epstein's longtime associate who was convicted of sex trafficking and other charges related to Epstein's abuse of underage girls.

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What they’re saying

“The fact that Melania is coming out now lends me to believe there could be some news about her in the future. But if not, and if she is truly trying to clear her name, then she should come before the Oversight Committee and testify before us under oath. People will believe her more if she has a story to tell. That would be good for them to tell it. And now we have precedent of other first ladies being forced to testify under penalty of criminal sanctions and that was Hillary Clinton recently.”

— Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, U.S. Congressman

“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.”

— Melania Trump

What’s next

The House Oversight Committee will decide whether to subpoena Melania Trump to testify about her ties to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

The takeaway

Melania Trump's potential testimony could shed new light on the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein scandal and further complicate the legacy of the former president's time in office. However, Epstein survivors have already testified extensively, and they argue the focus should now be on the Justice Department following through on the Epstein Files Transparency Act.