WASHINGTON - Melania Trump used a personal email account and encrypted messaging apps like Signal to conduct government business, a former friend and associate of the first lady told The Washington Post.
The use of personal email accounts was at the heart of President Donald Trump's most vicious attacks on Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential campaign. As first lady, Melania Trump is not a government employee and is not automatically covered by the same laws that would govern communications by a Cabinet secretary or other administration officials, according to ethics experts.