A federal judge in Manhattan has dismissed a lawsuit involving journalist Michael Wolff and First Lady Melania Trump, ruling that the case was not appropriate for federal court.
U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil concluded that although the two sides have a genuine legal dispute, the lawsuit had been brought to federal court through an unusual procedural strategy that she declined to endorse. In her decision, the judge described the filing as a “contorted” attempt and criticized what she called an “inappropriate level of tactical gamesmanship.” She dismissed the case without deciding the underlying claims, allowing the dispute to proceed through the normal state court process.
The legal battle began after Melania Trump’s attorneys sent Wolff a cease-and-desist letter demanding that he retract statements they claimed were false and defamatory. The letter warned that legal action would follow if he failed to comply. Rather than waiting to be sued, Wolff filed a lawsuit in New York state court seeking judicial relief. Melania Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito, then moved the case into federal court.
Following the dismissal, a spokesperson for the first lady welcomed the ruling, saying Melania Trump remains committed to challenging what her team describes as false and defamatory claims made for publicity or financial gain. Her attorneys have argued that the disputed statements caused significant damage to her reputation and financial interests.
Melania Trump has consistently denied any connection to financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. During an April press conference, she strongly rejected allegations linking her to Epstein, calling the claims false and accusing those spreading them of attempting to damage her reputation.
Wolff, however, argued in his lawsuit that President Donald Trump and the first lady have routinely used the threat of expensive litigation to discourage criticism. He maintained that many of his comments, including descriptions of the Trumps’ marriage as a “sham marriage” or “trophy marriage,” were protected opinions rather than factual allegations. He also emphasized that he had never accused Melania Trump of criminal involvement with Epstein.
The dispute gained additional attention after The Daily Beast published an article suggesting Melania Trump was “very involved” in the Epstein controversy. After receiving a legal demand from her attorney, the publication removed the story. Wolff later clarified that his comments referred to her role behind the scenes in White House matters and not to any criminal conduct.
The case has also drawn political attention. Republican Rep. Nancy Mace praised Melania Trump’s efforts to defend her reputation and highlighted her advocacy for legislation protecting victims of fake intimate images. Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia voiced support for Melania Trump’s earlier call for public congressional hearings on matters related to Epstein victims.
Although the federal case has been dismissed, the underlying dispute remains unresolved and may continue in state court or another appropriate legal venue.
