A federal judge dismissed journalist Michael Wolff’s lawsuit against First Lady Melania Trump, rejecting what the court called a “contorted” legal maneuver and clearing the path for Trump’s separate defamation case against Wolff.
Manhattan Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil ruled that while federal court had jurisdiction over the case, she was declining to exercise it and sending the matter back to state court. Vyskocil characterized the lawsuit as “an inappropriate level of tactical gamesmanship” and said she would not be “drafted to oversee an abusively presented spat.”
The Legal Battle
Wolff had sued the first lady in state court in October after The Daily Beast retracted an article titled “Melania Trump ‘Very Involved’ in Epstein Scandal: Author,” which was based on an interview with the journalist. Trump’s legal team, led by attorney Alejandro Brito, moved the case to federal court.
In his lawsuit, Wolff argued that the president and first lady “have made a practice of threatening those who speak against them” with costly legal actions “to silence their speech, to intimidate their critics generally, and to extract unjustified payments.” Wolff maintained that he never accused the first lady of involvement in criminal activity related to Epstein.
Melania Trump’s Position
A spokesperson for the first lady said Melania 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.” The 56-year-old has denied any association with Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of child sex trafficking.
Trump’s legal team had previously claimed that Wolff’s statements caused her “overwhelming reputational and financial harm.” The first lady stated at the time that “the individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility, and respect.”
Political Response
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace praised Melania Trump’s stance, saying “Melania Trump stands with Epstein victims” and citing the first lady’s advocacy for legislation addressing the distribution of fake intimate images.