India, April 10 -- In a rare speech at the White House on Thursday, First Lady Melania Trump strongly denied having any relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling the claims false and damaging. However, her statement brought attention to an email exchange between her and Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell that had already been released by the US Department of Justice.

Melania Trump strongly denied the claims in her statement. She said, "The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today."

She said she was never close to Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell and described her contact with Maxwell as casual. "I never been friends with Epstein. Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstei...