Melania Trump was the subject of a lawsuit from journalist Michael Wolff, who accused the First Lady of threatening to silence him through defamation.
In court documents obtained by TheWrap, Wolff claims Trump sent a threatening letter, which demanded that the journalist apologize by Tuesday for “false, defamatory, derogatory, misleading and inflammatory statements” he allegedly made about the First Lady and her connection to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal — or be sued for $1 billion in damages and interests.
In his legal response, Wolff’s lawyer defended that the journalist was simply doing his job “diligently,” which included asking “important questions that merit investigation.” According to the document, Wolff planned to write a book about Epstein.
Wolff’s legal complaint noted: “Ms. Trump and her ‘unitary executive’ husband and their MAGA myrmidons have made a habit of threatening those who speak out against them with costly SLAPP actions in order to silence their speech, intimidate their critics generally, and extort unwarranted payments and North Korea-style confessions and apologies.”
The document continues: “These threats of legal action are intended to create a climate of fear in the nation so that people cannot freely or confidently exercise their First Amendment rights. The threats are also intended to shut down a legitimate investigation into the Epstein matter that the Trumps and their associates have sought at every turn to obstruct and suppress.”
Wolff is seeking to have his legal fees covered as well as compensatory and punitive damages, according to the filing.
“[Mrs. Trump’s claims] “Preventing and chilling future reporting and writing that Mr. Wolff has committed to doing regarding Epstein, Mr. Trump, and Ms. Trump,” the complaint adds. “In many ways, that’s the main point of these claims.”
As of this writing, the filing has not been reviewed or approved by the county clerk.
Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
