Massie Says Melania Trump ‘Knows’ Epstein Wasn’t Acting Alone

Rep. Thomas Massie stated that first lady Melania Trump “knows” Jeffrey Epstein did not act alone. He referenced her recent public comments as he committed to seeking more information from the government’s Epstein files.

Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, recently lost his primary after a notable conflict with President Donald Trump. He made this remark during an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press. He claimed Melania Trump’s statement about Epstein reinforced his belief that more people were involved in the case than the government has identified.

“The first lady knows that Jeffrey Epstein didn’t act alone,” Massie said, as reported by The Daily Beast. He used this comment to criticize the Justice Department’s management of Epstein-related records and promised to continue naming individuals he thinks should receive more public scrutiny.

Massie’s comments tied the first lady to a politically charged issue in Washington. There is ongoing debate over whether the government has fully disclosed documents related to Epstein, the financier and convicted sex offender who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

In April, Melania Trump publicly addressed the issue, denying any connections to Epstein and urging Congress to hold a public hearing for survivors. In a White House statement, she said, “The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.”

She also noted that Epstein “was not alone” and asked Congress to provide survivors a chance to testify under oath, according to NPR affiliate WUNC. Her statement received mixed responses from survivors and attorneys.

Some supported a hearing, while others felt victims had already provided sufficient testimony and evidence.

Massie has made the Epstein files a key aspect of his break with Trump and Republican leadership. He collaborated with Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which aimed to release records tied to Epstein’s case. The bill passed the House and Senate in 2025 and was signed by Trump, according to publicly available legislative summaries.

The congressman has accused federal officials of withholding or excessively redacting records. The Daily Beast reported that he criticized Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel, stating their public comments about the case did not match what he believes the files reveal. The Justice Department has said it released millions of pages of records and complied with the law.

Massie also claimed he identified names in the files, including Leon Black, Jes Staley, and Leslie Wexner, according to The Daily Beast. The appearance of a name in Epstein-related records does not alone indicate criminal behavior.

Some individuals mentioned in previous discussions of the files have denied wrongdoing or have not faced accusations of crimes linked to Epstein.

This issue has followed Massie through the final phase of his House career. Trump endorsed former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein against him in Kentucky’s Republican primary, and Gallrein defeated Massie in a race that attracted significant outside spending and national attention.

Trump and Massie have frequently disagreed on spending, foreign policy, and the Epstein files. Massie has stated that his push for document releases harmed his political standing, while Trump’s allies argued that his voting record conflicted with the president’s agenda.

The first lady’s office did not respond to The Daily Beast regarding Massie’s latest statement. The White House has previously dismissed efforts to link Melania Trump to Epstein and has labeled the allegations as defamatory.

Massie’s comments keep the fight over the Epstein files active even after his primary defeat. He stated he plans to continue seeking records and naming individuals before he leaves Congress.