A federal judge has thrown out journalist Michael Wolff’s lawsuit against First Lady Melania Trump, ruling the case should be pursued in state court instead.
Manhattan Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil dismissed the complaint on procedural grounds, stating the legal filing represented “an inappropriate level of tactical gamesmanship” and was “not how federal courts work.” Vyskocil acknowledged both sides had a legitimate dispute but declined to oversee the matter in federal court.
The Legal Challenge
Trump’s legal team, represented by attorney Alejandro Brito, moved the case from state court to federal court last fall. Brito had argued the case belonged in federal jurisdiction, but Vyskocil determined that while federal court technically had authority, she would decline to exercise it.
“It’s an inappropriate level of tactical gamesmanship,” Vyskocil said from the bench. She stated she would not be “drafted to oversee an abusively presented spat” and ordered the matter returned to state court.
The Dispute’s Origin
Trump’s legal team has claimed Wolff’s public statements caused her “overwhelming reputational and financial harm.” The first lady previously issued a statement denying any connection to Jeffrey Epstein, the financier who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges.
“The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility, and respect,” Trump said in a statement at the time. “I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.”
Wolff’s Allegations
Wolff claimed in his legal filing that the president and first lady “have made a practice of threatening those who speak against them” with expensive lawsuits designed to “silence their speech, to intimidate their critics generally, and to extract unjustified payments.” He maintained that he never accused Trump of involvement in criminal activity.
The Daily Beast retracted an article last summer based on an interview with Wolff after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Brito. The original article carried the headline “Melania Trump ‘Very Involved’ in Epstein Scandal: Author.”
Congressional Response
Republican Representative Nancy Mace praised Trump’s public stance on the matter, noting the first lady’s advocacy for legislation addressing deepfake intimate images. “Melania Trump stands with Epstein victims,” Mace said. “The truth will prevail.”
Democratic Representative Robert Garcia called for expanded congressional review of related matters, urging House leadership to hold a public hearing on the subject. “We encourage Chairman Comer to schedule a hearing immediately,” Garcia said, advocating for victims to testify under oath.
