Melania Trump denies ties to Jeffrey Epstein in rare statement

Melania Trump, the former first lady, released a rare public statement denying any ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a video posted from the White House, she called the rumors 'lies' and said they 'need to end today.'

The statement came without any clear trigger, leading to confusion and speculation about why she chose to address the topic now. Separately, the president of Bard College told staff he expects to be cleared in an inquiry over his own ties to Epstein.