Author Michael Wolff has initiated legal action against US First Lady Melania Trump, claiming she threatened to sue him for over $1 billion unless he retracted statements linking her to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in Manhattan’s state Supreme Court, as reported by the Associated Press. Wolff, famed for his bestselling books on former President Donald Trump, said the threats arose after he spoke to The Daily Beast and posted three videos on social media. Melania Trump’s legal team had given him an October 15 deadline to apologize, retract the statements, and pay damages, which he refused.
In response, Melania Trump’s spokesperson, Nicholas Clemens, stated that the First Lady “will continue standing up to those who spread malicious and defamatory falsehoods for attention and money.” Wolff, however, argues in his filing that the legal threats are part of a pattern of intimidation used by the Trumps to silence critics. He claims the couple routinely leverages expensive lawsuits to extract apologies, stifle speech, and intimidate journalists.
Wolff’s lawsuit asserts that the intimidation tactics are meant to create fear among the media, discouraging investigations into the Trumps’ alleged ties to Epstein. He stressed that his intent is not to accuse Melania Trump of criminal conduct but to assert his right to report and analyze her connection to Epstein’s social circle, where she reportedly first met Donald Trump. The lawsuit also seeks to compel both the former president and First Lady to testify under oath regarding their interactions with Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges.
According to Wolff’s filing, the author’s book includes claims that Melania Trump was “very involved” in Epstein’s social network. It also alleges that Donald Trump engaged in affairs with friends’ wives and that his first sexual encounter with Melania Trump allegedly took place aboard Epstein’s private jet. Wolff contends that exploring Melania Trump’s role in Epstein’s world is a legitimate journalistic inquiry and protected speech under US law.
Earlier this year, Donald Trump dismissed Wolff as a “third-rate Reporter” and labeled his upcoming book “a total FAKE JOB.” Despite these public disparagements, Wolff maintains that his statements are accurate and presented as opinion, defending them as fair commentary. The lawsuit underscores ongoing tensions between the Trumps and journalists who investigate their personal and social histories, particularly concerning controversial figures such as Epstein.
