Federal Judge Dismisses Michael Wolff’s Preemptive Lawsuit Against Melania Trump Over Epstein-Related Claims
A federal judge has dismissed author and journalist Michael Wolff’s preemptive lawsuit against First Lady Melania Trump, ruling that the case was improperly brought and criticizing it as an attempt to use the courts to gain an advantage before any defamation lawsuit was filed.
U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil of the Southern District of New York said the dispute between Wolff and Melania Trump was real but argued that it must proceed through standard legal procedures. She described Wolff’s filing as involving “tactical gamesmanship” and rejected his request for a court declaration that he would prevail if sued.
The dispute began after Wolff made comments connecting Melania Trump to Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier who died in 2019 while facing federal sex trafficking charges. Melania Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito, sent Wolff a demand letter accusing him of spreading false claims and warning that legal action could follow.
Wolff responded by filing a lawsuit seeking protection from a potential $1 billion defamation case, arguing that his statements were opinion or protected speech. The case was later moved to federal court, where Judge Vyskocil dismissed it.
A spokesperson for Melania Trump praised the ruling, saying she would continue defending herself against what she described as false and defamatory accusations. Melania Trump has publicly denied any connection to Epstein, stating that claims linking her to him are false and demanding that they stop.
Wolff has maintained that he never accused the first lady of criminal conduct and argued that the legal threats were intended to silence criticism. The judge’s decision does not determine whether any future defamation claims have merit, leaving open the possibility of further legal action.
