Federal Judge Dismisses Michael Wolff’s Lawsuit Against First Lady Melania Trump
A federal judge in Manhattan dismissed a lawsuit brought by journalist Michael Wolff against First Lady Melania Trump on Friday, characterizing the filing as a “contorted” attempt that does not follow proper federal court procedures.
U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, appointed by President Donald Trump, ruled that although the court technically held jurisdiction over the matter, she was declining to exercise it. “It’s an inappropriate level of tactical gamesmanship,” the judge said, adding that she would not be “drafted to oversee an abusively presented spat.” Judge Vyskocil nevertheless acknowledged that both sides have a “real dispute” and dismissed the case so it could “be litigated like any other.”
The legal clash originated last year when attorneys for the first lady sent Wolff a cease-and-desist letter demanding he delete certain statements about her and warning of potential litigation if he refused. In response, Wolff filed suit against Melania Trump in New York state court in October. Trump’s legal team, led by attorney Alejandro Brito, successfully moved the complaint to federal court.
A spokesperson for Melania Trump welcomed the decision, stating that 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.” The first lady’s legal team had previously argued that Wolff’s statements caused her “overwhelming reputational and financial harm.”
Melania Trump, 56, has strongly denied any association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges. In an April press conference, she declared, “The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.” She criticized those making the claims as “devoid of ethical standards, humility, and respect,” adding that she rejects their “mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.”
In his lawsuit, Wolff contended that the president and first lady have a practice of using costly legal actions to threaten and silence critics, intimidate opponents, and extract unjustified payments or apologies. He argued that some of his statements were protected opinions or taken out of context, including a description of the Trumps’ marriage as a “sham marriage, trophy marriage,” which he called a “fair and justified” view. Wolff emphasized that he never accused the first lady of criminal involvement with Epstein.
The controversy gained attention last summer when The Daily Beast published and later retracted an article titled “Melania Trump ‘Very Involved’ in Epstein Scandal: Author,” based on an interview with Wolff. The retraction followed a letter from Brito.
The case has drawn bipartisan commentary. Republican Rep. Nancy Mace praised the first lady for standing with Epstein victims and her advocacy on legislation addressing non-consensual intimate images. Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia expressed support for Melania Trump’s call for congressional action, urging a public hearing where victims could testify under oath. In her April remarks, the first lady urged Congress to act on the issue.
The dismissal returns the parties to standard litigation channels as the underlying dispute over speech and reputation continues.
