Michael Wolff's lawsuit against first lady Melania Trump was dismissed by a federal judge on Friday. Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil called the suit 'contorted' and not how courts work.
Key Takeaways
A federal judge dismissed author Michael Wolff's lawsuit against first lady Melania Trump, calling it 'contorted' and not how courts work. The suit aimed to preempt a $1 billion defamation claim by Trump over statements about her alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
- Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil ruled that Wolff’s anti-SLAPP lawsuit was ‘preemptive’
- Wolff sued Melania Trump last October after she threatened legal action for reputational harm
- The judge criticized both sides for 'tactical gamesmanship' and dismissed the case to be litigated normally
- Melania Trump has denied any affiliation with Epstein, calling allegations baseless lies
The author had filed the lawsuit in an attempt to preempt a $1 billion defamation claim by Melania Trump over statements he made about her alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein. According to The Guardian, Vyskocil said Wolff’s anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) suit was 'preemptive' and presented in a 'somewhat contorted posture'. The judge noted that Wolff was seeking special treatment by attempting to litigate out of order, exhibiting an 'inappropriate level of tactical gamesmanship' according to HuffPost.
The lawsuit stemmed from comments Wolff made about the administration's handling of files related to Epstein. Melania Trump had demanded an apology for these remarks and threatened legal action if Wolff did not retract his statements, which she claimed caused her 'overwhelming reputational and financial harm' as reported by Fox News. In response, Wolff filed a lawsuit in October 2024 after receiving a letter from Trump's lawyer.
The judge criticized both sides for engaging in an 'inappropriate level of tactical gamesmanship', stating that they must litigate their dispute according to the same procedures as everyone else. Vyskocil, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, noted that while federal court does have jurisdiction over the case, she declined to exercise it and dismissed the case to be litigated like any other.
Melania Trump has consistently denied any affiliation with Epstein. In an April statement at the White House, she called the allegations 'unfound and baseless lies' that suggested she had ties to him. Wolff's lawsuit argued that some of his statements were taken out of context or protected speech, including a claim about the Trumps having a 'sham marriage'. The Daily Beast retracted an article based on an interview with Wolff after receiving a letter from Trump's lawyer.
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