A federal judge has dismissed journalist Michael Wolff’s lawsuit against First Lady Melania Trump, allowing her $1 billion defamation claim to proceed in New York state court.
Manhattan Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil ruled that while federal court had jurisdiction over the case, the matter was better suited for state court. Vyskocil characterized the litigation strategy as an “abusively presented spat” and criticized what she called “an inappropriate level of tactical gamesmanship.”
What Sparked the Dispute
Wolff published statements suggesting Trump’s involvement in matters connected to financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while facing child sex trafficking charges. Trump’s legal team argued the statements caused her “overwhelming reputational and financial harm” and constituted defamation.
The Daily Beast retracted an article in 2024 titled “Melania Trump ‘Very Involved’ in Epstein Scandal: Author” after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito. Wolff later clarified that he never accused Trump of involvement in criminal activity related to Epstein.
The Judge’s Decision
Vyskocil acknowledged that both sides maintained “a real dispute” worthy of resolution but determined federal court was not the appropriate venue. The ruling returns the case to New York’s state court system, where Trump’s legal team originally filed the defamation complaint.
Trump’s attorney Brito had previously moved the case to federal court in a procedural maneuver before the judge’s decision to decline jurisdiction. The case will now proceed through state courts for resolution.
The Defense Arguments
Wolff’s legal filings argued that the Trump family “have made a practice of threatening those who speak against them” with costly legal actions designed to silence critics and extract payments. A spokesperson for the First Lady said Trump “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.”
