A new batch of Jeffrey Epstein materials released by the Department of Justice on Friday showed that Melania Trump was in communication with the late child sex offender's accomplice and former socialite Ghislaine Maxwell.
In an email sent by then Melania Knauss to Maxwell in 2002, who was at the time President Donald Trump's girlfriend, commended on a New York magazine article about Epstein, The Daily Beast reported.
“Dear G! How are you?” Melania's email included. “Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great in the picture.”
At the time, the couple was photographed with Maxwell and Epstein. The email has appeared to be the first written communication between Melania and Maxwell, The Beast reported.
The DOJ reportedly scrubbed numerous files relating to Epstein and President Donald Trump from its website on Friday, less than an hour after announcement that the agency had released 3 million Epstein documents.
Maxwell is currently serving 20 years in prison for child sex trafficking. She played a crucial role in facilitating his sex trafficking operation by recruiting, grooming and manipulating underage girls on Epstein's behalf, often posing as a maternal figure to gain their trust. Maxwell was arrested in July 2020, convicted on five counts including sex trafficking of minors in December 2021. Her case revealed her essential role in Epstein's systematic abuse of dozens of victims over many years.