Judge tosses Michael Wolff's lawsuit against Melania Trump, calls it 'contorted' and not how 'courts work'
Federal Judge Dismisses Author Michael Wolff's Preemptive Lawsuit Against First Lady Melania Trump
A federal judge in Manhattan has dismissed journalist Michael Wolff's preemptive lawsuit against First Lady Melania Trump, ruling that the court would not serve as a venue for what she described as tactical maneuvering between the two parties.
Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, a Trump appointee, threw out the suit on Friday, calling it a "contorted" effort that did not align with how federal courts operate. The judge acknowledged that a genuine dispute exists between the parties but stated she would not be "conscripted to oversee an abusively presented spat." The ruling dismisses the case, indicating it should be resolved through ordinary litigation.
Wolff, known for his critical biographies of President Donald Trump, filed the lawsuit last October in state court after receiving a letter from the first lady's attorney, Alejandro Brito. The letter demanded that Wolff retract statements he made connecting Melania Trump to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The letter warned that failure to comply would result in a $1 billion defamation lawsuit.
In his preemptive filing, Wolff argued that the president and first lady have developed a practice of threatening critics with costly legal actions designed to silence speech and extract apologies. His lawsuit claimed some of his statements about the first lady were taken out of context or represented protected opinion, including characterization of the couple's marriage as a "trophy marriage." Wolff maintained he never accused Melania Trump of criminal involvement with Epstein.
The legal dispute gained public attention after the Daily Beast retracted an article last summer titled "Melania Trump 'Very Involved' in Epstein Scandal: Author," which had been based on an interview with Wolff. The outlet issued a retraction following a letter from Brito's law firm.
Melania Trump has firmly denied any association with Epstein. At an April press conference, she addressed the allegations directly.
"The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," the first lady said. "The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect. I do not object to their ignorance, but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation."
Following the judge's ruling, a spokesperson for Melania Trump expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating the first lady "is proud to continue standing up to, and fighting against, those who spread malicious and defamatory falsehoods as they desperately try to get undeserved attention and money from their unlawful conduct."
Wolff's legal team had argued that the threat of litigation caused the first lady "overwhelming reputational and financial harm," though the judge determined this dispute should be handled outside federal court. The case returns to the realm of standard civil litigation, where any future claims between the parties would proceed normally.
