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First lady urges lawmakers to give Epstein victims a platform to testify under oath.

Congressional Hearings for Epstein Survivors

Government, Politics and Policy

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<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/author/ashley-murray">Ashley Murray</a> | <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com">News From The States</a> April 9, 2026

 WASHINGTON — First lady Melania Trump said Thursday she was “never involved in any capacity” with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and that “baseless lies” about her are being circulated.

 In a rare solo statement livestreamed on the White House website, Melania Trump also called for a congressional hearing featuring the women who have <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/congress-must-choose-epstein-survivors-demand-vote-release-case-files">shared</a> stories of abuse by Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting federal trial on sex trafficking charges.

 “I call on Congress to provide the women who have been victimized by Epstein with a public hearing specifically centered around the survivors, to give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress,” the first lady said in her nearly six-minute remarks.

 “With the power of sworn testimony, each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public, if she wishes, and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the Congressional Record,” she added. “Then and only then, we will have the truth.”

 Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has repeatedly dismissed the government’s files related to Epstein as a “hoax.” However, throughout the 2024 campaign, Trump promised to make the investigatory materials public.

 The scandal has followed the president through most of his first term. While Trump shared a well-documented friendship with Epstein, who pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor in Florida in 2008, he denies any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities.

 The first lady also reproached individuals who she said are “devoid of ethical standards” for spreading “completely false” stories that she shared relationships with Epstein and convicted sex trafficker Ghislane Maxwell.

 “I was not a participant, was never on Epstein's plane, and never visited his private island,” she said. “I have never been legally accused or (convicted) of a crime in connection with Epstein sex trafficking, abuse of minors and other repulsive behavior. The false smears about me from meanspirited and politically motivated individuals and entities looking to cause damage to my good name to gain financially and climb politically must stop.”

 <h2>Free speech suit</h2>

 It was unclear what spurred the first lady’s statement.

 She specifically mentioned the Daily Beast, James Carville and HarperCollins UK. The three are mentioned in exhibits attached to a <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.655484/gov.uscourts.nysd.655484.1.1.pdf">lawsuit</a> in New York against Melania Trump by journalist Michael Wolff, accusing her of seeking to intimidate him into retracting statements he’d made alleging a connection between her and Epstein.

 She also mentioned a 2002 email exchange between her and Maxwell that was revealed among the hundreds of thousands of records from the federal Epstein investigation that the Justice Department <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/department-justice-releases-new-documents-photos-part-epstein-files">released</a> beginning in December, as required by law. The first lady defended the email exchange as “casual correspondence.”

 All but one member of Congress <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-agrees-overwhelming-house-vote-force-release-epstein-files">supported legislation</a> compelling the Justice Department to release the Epstein files.

 The effort gained steam after the department, then under Attorney General Pam Bondi, said in July it would not release anything further related to the case. Bondi had previously claimed she had Epstein’s client list sitting on her desk.

 Trump <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/pam-bondi-out-trumps-attorney-general">removed</a> Bondi this month.

 <h2>Dem endorses call for hearing</h2>

 Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, lauded the first lady’s call for a hearing.

 “We agree with First Lady Melania Trump’s call for a public hearing with the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein. We encourage Chairman Comer to respond to the First Lady’s request and schedule a public hearing immediately,” Garcia wrote on X.

 The Oversight Committee, led by Kentucky Republican James Comer, is conducting its own investigation into the files and has subpoenaed high-profile figures to testify, including former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-panel-subpoenas-attorney-general-pam-bondi-epstein-investigation">Bondi</a>.
<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/melania-trump-denounces-baseless-lies-connecting-her-epstein">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com">News From The States</a>.
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Melania Trump Denounces ‘Baseless Lies’ Connecting Her to Epstein

The president’s words don’t just reflect reality—they shape it, redefining what kind of violence feels permissible.

Demanding Constitutional Action Against Trump's Threats of Mass Violence

Presidential Words Can Turn the Unthinkable into the Thinkable − for Better or for Worse

Liberal Judge Chris Taylor defeated conservative Judge Maria Lazar on Tuesday for an open seat on the state’s high court.

Protecting Fairness and Balance in Our Courts

Campaigns and Elections

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<a href="https://19thnews.org/author/grace-panetta">Grace Panetta</a> | <a href="https://19thnews.org">The 19th</a> April 7, 2026
<a href="https://19thnews.org/2026/04/wisconsin-supreme-court-election?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=19th-republishing&utm_content=/2026/04/wisconsin-supreme-court-election">This story</a> was originally reported by Grace Panetta of <a href="https://19thnews.org/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=19th-republishing&utm_content=/2026/04/wisconsin-supreme-court-election">The 19th</a>. <a href="https://19thnews.org/author/grace-panetta?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=19th-republishing&utm_content=/2026/04/wisconsin-supreme-court-election"> Meet Grace and read more of their reporting on gender, politics and policy</a>.
Liberal Judge Chris Taylor defeated conservative Judge Maria Lazar for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, expanding liberals’ majority on the state’s high court to 5-2.&nbsp;
Taylor and Lazar both serve on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Taylor, a former Democratic state assemblymember, previously worked as an attorney and policy director for Planned Parenthood Wisconsin. Lazar served as an assistant attorney general and circuit court judge in Waukesha, Wisconsin, following a 20-year career in private practice.
State Supreme Court elections in Wisconsin are technically nonpartisan but have become heavily politicized in recent years. Conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley’s retirement opened up another seat with a 10-year term on the high court.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The past two state Supreme Court elections in Wisconsin, both won by liberals, have drawn record levels of spending and national attention due to the state’s status as a perennial battleground. During President Donald Trump’s presidency, Democratic voters have been more likely to turn out in off-cycle and special elections like these.&nbsp;
The judges’ records, including on abortion, were major issues in the race. Abortion access in Wisconsin had been in flux after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in 2022 due to a 1849 abortion ban that remained on the books. Last year, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the 1849 law, making a ban on most abortions after 20 weeks that state lawmakers passed in 2015 the law of the land.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Taylor emphasized her support for abortion rights and her past advocacy for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence in her campaign ads. Lazar has said that she would uphold the state’s 20-week ban, which she described as a “compromise,” in her ads. Some of Lazar’s attack ads against Taylor also mentioned noncitizen voting, voter ID laws and transgender girls in women’s sports, top issues for conservatives and Republicans nationally.&nbsp;
In 2023, Justice Janet Protasiewicz’s win flipped control of the court from conservative to liberal-dominated. And in 2025, liberal <a href="https://19thnews.org/2025/04/wisconsin-supreme-court-result-crawford/">Justice Susan Crawford</a> defeated conservative Brad Schimel to maintain liberals’ 4-3 majority. Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, poured tens of millions of dollars into the race supporting Schimel as he was reshaping the federal government through his so-called Department of Government Efficiency. But his efforts fell short, as Crawford won by nearly 10 points.&nbsp;
In this year’s contest, Taylor outraised and outspent Lazar, according to a campaign spending tracker from <a href="https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/buying-time-2026-wisconsin">the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice</a>. Her campaign spent nearly $3 million compared with just over $330,000 from Lazar’s campaign.&nbsp;
Three outside groups, A Better Wisconsin Together, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Judicial Action Network, also spent over $300,000 in the race backing Taylor’s candidacy.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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Liberals Expand Their Majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court

Mounting political backlash follows threats that sparked fears of civilian devastation.

Holding Trump Accountable for Illegal War Threats

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<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/author/ashley-murray">Ashley Murray</a>, <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/author/jacob-fischler">Jacob Fischler</a> | <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com">News From The States</a> April 7, 2026
 WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump agreed Tuesday evening to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, at least delaying his threat of a catastrophic attack on the country’s civilian population as he said the countries were near a long-term peace agreement.

 The ceasefire was negotiated with Pakistani leaders as intermediaries, Trump said in a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116365796713313030">post</a> to his social media site, Truth Social.

 “Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” he wrote.

 Trump added that he had received “a 10-point proposal from Iran” that would form the basis of a long-term agreement.

 “Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated,” he said.

 <h2>A day of global outrage</h2>

 Earlier Tuesday, Trump had <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116363336033995961">escalated his rhetoric</a> against Iran, even as some Republicans in Congress began to back away from his declarations, threatening that “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.”

 “I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” he wrote.

 The threat drew intense opposition throughout the day, including from Pope Leo XIV.

 Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y, denounced Trump as “an extremely sick person.”
“Each Republican who refuses to join us in voting against this wanton war of choice owns every consequence of whatever the hell this is,” he <a href="https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/2041505371940958335?s=20">wrote</a> on X Tuesday morning.
 Some Democrats in Congress said it’s time to invoke the 25th Amendment to the Constitution and remove Trump from office.

 <h2>Threats followed rescue operations</h2>

 Trump’s flurry of fresh threats followed Iran’s downing of two U.S. military aircraft.

 As of Tuesday, the United States struck Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal, <a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-04-07-2026">according</a> to The Associated Press, and Israeli forces struck eight bridges, according to a <a href="https://x.com/IDF/status/2041523615531749516?s=20">post</a> on X by Israel’s military.

 Speaking in Hungary, Vice President JD Vance said he hopes Iran chooses “the right response” by Trump’s evening deadline.

 Trump repeated the threat to bomb Iran’s civilian infrastructure Monday during a lengthy White House press conference.

 U.S. cybersecurity officials alerted critical infrastructure operators to “urgently review” cybersecurity protocols and take measures to disconnect certain components from the internet after indications that Iranian hackers have begun exploiting water and energy systems.

 Republicans on Capitol Hill, with the exception of Kentucky’s Sen. Rand Paul and Rep. Thomas Massie, have blocked efforts to rein in Trump’s war on Iran, but three more GOP voices against the conflict emerged in recent days.

 Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, declared opposition Friday to funding the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.

 On Tuesday afternoon, Rep. Nathaniel Moore, R-Texas, joined the opposition, posting on X that “what sets America apart is not only our strength, but how we use it.”

 The U.S. and Israel began a joint bombing campaign on Iran on Feb. 28, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and numerous other senior officials of the Islamic state.

 In response, Iran has targeted global oil trade by effectively choking off the Strait of Hormuz, a major maritime passage for one-fifth of the world’s petroleum and liquid natural gas.

 The conflict has killed thousands of civilians across the Middle East and injured thousands more.

 <h2>25th amendment</h2>

 Trump’s rash threat to wipe out Iran’s “whole civilization” sparked numerous calls to remove the president from office.

 Nearly two dozen Democratic lawmakers, including several progressive members, also turned to social media to appeal for the <a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt25-1/ALDE_00013871/">25th Amendment</a>, which authorizes the vice president and a majority of Cabinet members or Congress to deem the president unfit for office.

 Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., accused Trump of threatening “massive war crimes” and also implicated Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

 Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said “removal is the top priority.”

 In a video message posted on X, Markey urged the House to “immediately” come back into session and pass articles of impeachment against Trump, and for the Senate to remove him from office.

 Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., countered the calls, saying, “The president is facing serious mental decline; I’m with you on that.”

 Rep. Marcy Kaptur, whose seat in red northwest Ohio is under threat, stopped short of mentioning the 25th Amendment, but urged GOP congressional leadership to act as Trump is “recklessly threatening to commit atrocities and war crimes.”

 <h2>Illegal orders</h2>

 Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., reminded American service members in a statement Tuesday that attacking civilians en masse “puts them in very real legal jeopardy,” as the action is not only in violation of the <a href="https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/api-1977/article-54?activeTab=">Geneva Conventions</a>, but also the Pentagon’s <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2023/Jul/31/2003271432/-1/-1/0/DOD-LAW-OF-WAR-MANUAL-JUNE-2015-UPDATED-JULY%202023.PDF">Law of War Manual</a>.
Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, and five other congressional Democrats who served in the military or national security roles, <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-accuses-6-democratic-lawmakers-seditious-behavior-punishable-death">published a video</a> in November stating that members of the armed services are not obligated to follow illegal orders. The video came during the height of the administration’s strikes on small alleged drug-running boats in the Caribbean.
 "It’s moments like these that are why we made the video to service members last year. And I hope and believe our troops — especially those in command — will have the moral clarity to push back if they are given clearly illegal orders,” Slotkin said in a statement Tuesday.

 Rep. Jason Crow, a Colorado Democrat who appeared in the video with Slotkin, said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., must bring the House back into session and vote to end the war.

 Pope Leo XIV, during a press gaggle outside his summer residence near Rome, appealed to Americans to contact Congress and express opposition to the Iran war.

 “I would invite the citizens of all countries involved to contact the authorities, political leaders, congressmen, to ask them, tell them to work for peace and to reject war always,” he <a href="https://x.com/ChristopherHale/status/2041586928055681531?s=20">said</a>.
<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-announces-2-week-iran-ceasefire-backing-threat-whole-civilization-will-die">This article</a> was originally published by <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com">News From The States</a>. It has been shortened from its original format.
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Trump Announces 2-Week Iran Ceasefire, Backing Off Threat ‘A Whole Civilization Will Die’

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<a href="https://19thnews.org/2026/04/wisconsin-supreme-court-election?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=19th-republishing&utm_content=/2026/04/wisconsin-supreme-court-election">This story</a> was originally reported by Grace Panetta of <a href="https://19thnews.org/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=19th-republishing&utm_content=/2026/04/wisconsin-supreme-court-election">The 19th</a>. <a href="https://19thnews.org/author/grace-panetta?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=19th-republishing&utm_content=/2026/04/wisconsin-supreme-court-election"> Meet Grace and read more of their reporting on gender, politics and policy</a>.
Liberal Judge Chris Taylor defeated conservative Judge Maria Lazar for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, expanding liberals’ majority on the state’s high court to 5-2.&nbsp;
Taylor and Lazar both serve on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Taylor, a former Democratic state assemblymember, previously worked as an attorney and policy director for Planned Parenthood Wisconsin. Lazar served as an assistant attorney general and circuit court judge in Waukesha, Wisconsin, following a 20-year career in private practice.
State Supreme Court elections in Wisconsin are technically nonpartisan but have become heavily politicized in recent years. Conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley’s retirement opened up another seat with a 10-year term on the high court.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The past two state Supreme Court elections in Wisconsin, both won by liberals, have drawn record levels of spending and national attention due to the state’s status as a perennial battleground. During President Donald Trump’s presidency, Democratic voters have been more likely to turn out in off-cycle and special elections like these.&nbsp;
The judges’ records, including on abortion, were major issues in the race. Abortion access in Wisconsin had been in flux after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in 2022 due to a 1849 abortion ban that remained on the books. Last year, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the 1849 law, making a ban on most abortions after 20 weeks that state lawmakers passed in 2015 the law of the land.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Taylor emphasized her support for abortion rights and her past advocacy for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence in her campaign ads. Lazar has said that she would uphold the state’s 20-week ban, which she described as a “compromise,” in her ads. Some of Lazar’s attack ads against Taylor also mentioned noncitizen voting, voter ID laws and transgender girls in women’s sports, top issues for conservatives and Republicans nationally.&nbsp;
In 2023, Justice Janet Protasiewicz’s win flipped control of the court from conservative to liberal-dominated. And in 2025, liberal <a href="https://19thnews.org/2025/04/wisconsin-supreme-court-result-crawford/">Justice Susan Crawford</a> defeated conservative Brad Schimel to maintain liberals’ 4-3 majority. Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, poured tens of millions of dollars into the race supporting Schimel as he was reshaping the federal government through his so-called Department of Government Efficiency. But his efforts fell short, as Crawford won by nearly 10 points.&nbsp;
In this year’s contest, Taylor outraised and outspent Lazar, according to a campaign spending tracker from <a href="https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/buying-time-2026-wisconsin">the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice</a>. Her campaign spent nearly $3 million compared with just over $330,000 from Lazar’s campaign.&nbsp;
Three outside groups, A Better Wisconsin Together, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Judicial Action Network, also spent over $300,000 in the race backing Taylor’s candidacy.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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