By Maribel Velazquez
A federal judge in New York dismissed the lawsuit filed by the writer Michael Wolff against the first lady Melania Trumpin a new legal episode related to the author’s statements about a Melania’s alleged connection to financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The court decision represents a victory for Melania Trump and a setback for Wolff, who sought to preempt a multimillion-dollar defamation lawsuit stemming from his public comments.
The Associated Press detailed that the federal judge Mary Kay Vyskocil called Wolff’s legal challenge a “twisted” attempt of using the federal courts to preempt litigation that did not yet formally exist.
The legal dispute revolves around Jeffrey Epstein
The conflict began after Alejandro Brito, Melania Trump’s lawyer, sent a letter to Wolff warning him that he would face legal action if he did not retract statements that, according to the defense, caused “enormous damage” to the first lady’s reputation and finances.
Wolff responded by filing a lawsuit last October seeking to have a court declare that his comments did not constitute defamation and that, if subsequently sued, Melania Trump to assume costs and possible compensation.
However, Vyskocil rejected the approach and criticized what it described as “inappropriate game tactics” by the writer.
“This court will not allow itself to be recruited to oversee an abusively presented dispute,” the judge wrote in her forty-five-page ruling.
The judge, appointed by Donald Trump during his administration, maintained thatboth parties do have a legitimate disputebut stressed that the case must follow ordinary judicial processes.
Melania hardens stance against accusations
Last April, Melania Trump offered a public statement from the White House in which He flatly denied any ties to Epstein. and accused his critics of spreading “baseless lies.”
“The lies linking me to the infamous Jeffrey Epstein must end today”said the first lady.
Melania’s spokesperson, Reduces Clemens, celebrated the court decision and assured that she will continue to confront those who “spread malicious and defamatory falsehoods.”
For his part, Wolff argued in his lawsuit that the Trump family has used legal threats to intimidate critics and journalists, creating — according to him — a “climate of fear” that affects freedom of expression protected by the First Amendment.
Keep reading:
- Trump called Sessions “mentally retarded” and wanted to assassinate Al Assad, according to book
- Melania Trump accuses host Jimmy Kimmel of “sowing hate” and asks ABC to take a position on the matter
