A federal judge has thrown out a preemptive lawsuit filed by journalist Michael Wolff against First Lady Melania Trump, removing a legal obstacle to her potential $1 billion defamation claim against him.
Manhattan Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil ruled that Wolff’s attempt to block Trump from suing him was tactically improper and declined to keep the case in federal court. Vyskocil said the dispute should proceed through standard litigation channels rather than through her courtroom.
Wolff had filed the lawsuit in October after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Trump’s attorney demanding he delete statements linking her to financier Jeffrey Epstein. The first lady has consistently denied any association with Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The Legal Dispute
“It’s an inappropriate level of tactical gamesmanship,” Vyskocil said from the bench, adding that she would not be “drafted to oversee an abusively presented spat.” Despite acknowledging both sides have legitimate grievances, the judge said federal court was not the appropriate venue for the conflict.
Wolff had argued in his lawsuit that Trump “have made a practice of threatening those who speak against them” with costly legal actions to silence critics. He claimed some of his statements were taken out of context and constituted protected opinion, including characterizations of the Trump marriage.
Trump’s legal team, led by attorney Alejandro Brito, had successfully moved the case from state to federal court before the judge dismissed it. Brito previously sent a letter to Wolff demanding deletion of the statements and warning of legal consequences if he refused.
Trump’s Response
A Melania Trump spokesperson said the first lady “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.”
At an April press conference, Trump stated directly: “The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.” She called those making the claims “devoid of ethical standards, humility, and respect” and rejected what she described as deliberate attempts to damage her reputation.
Trump’s legal team has claimed Wolff’s statements caused her “overwhelming reputational and financial harm.” The Daily Beast retracted an article last summer based on an interview with Wolff after receiving Brito’s cease-and-desist letter.
Congressional Reaction
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace praised Trump’s public stance, saying “Melania Trump stands with Epstein victims” and citing her advocacy for legislation addressing non-consensual intimate images. “The truth will prevail,” Mace said.
Democratic lawmakers also responded to Trump’s April remarks. Rep. Robert Garcia called for a public hearing, saying “We agree with First Lady Melania Trump’s call for a public hearing” and urging House leadership to schedule one promptly.
In her press conference, Trump called on Congress to take action and urged lawmakers to allow victims to testify under oath regarding the Epstein matter.
