Michael Wolff Sues Melania Trump Over $1 Billion Defamation Threats Linked to Epstein Claims

Author Michael Wolff has sued First Lady Melania Trump in New York after receiving a threat of a $1 billion defamation case over his statements linking her and Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein.

“Over the last year and change, Donald Trump and his various close associates have made a crude artform of “the lawsuit as an intimidation tool,” launching legal cases with massively inflated price tags attached, not because they expected CBS News or ABC or any of their other targets to take these often-frivolous cases to court, but to impress upon them how bad things could go if theydid”

AV Club

Reports say the case was filed in Manhattan’s state Supreme Court, with accounts diverging on remedies: some describe Wolff seeking a declaratory judgment and attorney’s fees, while others say he seeks unspecified damages.

AV Club

Wolff frames the threatened action as a SLAPP aimed at suppressing his reporting and speech.

He argues his statements were protected opinion or true, and he denies accusing Melania of crimes.

He also signals plans to probe the Trumps’ Epstein ties under oath through the lawsuit.

The clash was triggered by Wolff’s public claims about Epstein and the Trumps.

Newsweek reports that Wolff’s contested assertions included that Epstein said Melania first met or was intimate with Donald Trump on Epstein’s private jet.

SSBCrack

The report also claimed that Melania helped manage Epstein-related issues.

RadarOnline amplified similar specifics and noted that The Daily Beast removed an article and issued an apology for any confusion.

TMZ focused on the legal threat letter, quoting that Melania demanded Wolff retract comments where he said she was very involved in the Epstein scandal.

Wolff responded by saying some statements were opinions or true, and he denied ever accusing her of crimes.

Wolff characterizes the threatened $1 billion suit as part of a broader pattern of SLAPP tactics to chill reporting on Epstein-related questions.

“Deputy Weekend Editor Michael Wolff, author of four books on PresidentDonald Trump, filed alawsuitagainst First LadyMelania Trumpin New York State court”

Newsweek

He is seeking court protection for his speech.

Western Alternative outlet Deadline underscores that his filing accuses the Trumps of SLAPP intimidation.

Western Mainstream Law and Crime describes a First Amendment fight tied to his forthcoming book, The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump (Redux).

Other outlets diverge on scope and stakes.

News Ghana claims this is the first time a sitting First Lady has been sued and alleges a coordinated campaign that cost Wolff a multi‑million‑dollar book deal.

Regional outlets reiterate Wolff’s argument that his statements were opinion or true.

A central feature of Wolff’s suit is his bid to force testimony about the Trumps’ ties to Epstein.

Multiple outlets report he aims to depose or question Melania and Donald Trump under oath, framing this as an effort to test the truth of his statements.

MyNorthwest

Accounts vary in emphasis: some highlight subpoena power and depositions; others stress the neutral fact of planned questioning.

In parallel, Wolff and some regional outlets reiterate that his statements were opinion or fair inquiry, and that he denies alleging criminal conduct by Melania.

Melania Trump’s side strongly denies Wolff’s claims and threatens litigation, saying his remarks caused reputational and financial harm.

“First Lady Melania Trump faces an unprecedented legal challenge from veteran journalist Michael Wolff, who has filed a lawsuit accusing her of attempting to silence his reporting and destroy his reputation through threats of massive legal action”

News Ghana

Her spokesperson calls Wolff’s allegations “malicious and defamatory.”

Daily Mail

Her legal team, according to Newsweek, says his claims are “false,” “without factual basis,” and that he fabricates stories.

The Trump orbit also attacks Wolff’s credibility.

RadarOnline quotes Steven Cheung calling him a “liar” with “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

Multiple outlets note Donald Trump has labeled Wolff’s work “fake” and “discredited.”

Some outlets also highlight broader implications.

Newsweek says the case could shape how courts balance defamation and anti‑SLAPP protections.

Other sources focus on the immediate back‑and‑forth and media corrections.