Sure, Jan: Melania pops up with a very convenient Epstein denial

Melania Trump, who almost never speaks publicly unless absolutely necessary, suddenly stepped up to the cameras to deny ties to Jeffrey Epstein, who appears in released documents as a possible link in how she met Donald Trump, and to do it right as fresh scrutiny starts building again.

"I am not Epstein's victim," Melania Trump said. "Epstein did not introduce me to [President] Donald Trump." It was not immediately clear why the first lady was addressing this issue publicly. But included in the Epstein files released by the Justice Department was a heavily redacted FBI interview that included the claim Epstein introduced the Trumps.

"I have never had any knowledge of Epstein's abuse of his victims," she continued. "I was never involved in any capacity."

The first lady asked Congress "to act" and hold public hearings allowing Epstein victims to testify.NPR

Unsurprisingly, Mrs. Trump asks for the victims to be allowed to testify, rather than to hear from the men implicated in the crimes. Perhaps she just wants more time with her loving husband.

When someone breaks their silence this carefully, this late, and this on-script, it's probably less about clearing things up and more about getting ahead of what she knows is coming next.

Previously:
• Director of 'Melania' in the latest Epstein Files drop
• Melania uses hostages freed by Hamas to promote her movie
• FBI file claims Epstein introduced Melania to Trump, contradicting the fairy tale