Federal Judge Dismisses Michael Wolff’s Preemptive Lawsuit Against Melania Trump
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by author and journalist Michael Wolff against First Lady Melania Trump, ruling that the case was brought prematurely and could not proceed under the legal theory presented.
In a 45-page opinion issued Friday, U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil of the Southern District of New York declined to hear the case, concluding that although a genuine dispute exists between the parties, the lawsuit was not properly before the court. Judge Vyskocil wrote that Wolff sought a judicial declaration that he would prevail if Melania Trump later filed a defamation lawsuit, a request the court determined was not an appropriate use of federal jurisdiction.
“While Plaintiff and the First Lady have a real dispute, they must litigate it according to the same procedures as everyone else,” Judge Vyskocil wrote. “Plaintiff asks for a declaration that, if the First Lady sues him, he deserves to win. That is not how the federal courts work.”
The legal dispute arose after Wolff made public comments linking Melania Trump to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Following those remarks, Melania Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito, sent Wolff a demand letter requesting that he retract the statements and warning that failure to do so could result in a defamation lawsuit seeking substantial damages.
Instead of waiting for a lawsuit to be filed, Wolff initiated legal proceedings in New York state court. He sought a declaratory judgment arguing that his comments were protected under the First Amendment or had been taken out of context. He also contended that the Trump family has frequently relied on litigation to discourage public criticism. The case was later removed to federal court.
Following Friday’s ruling, a spokesperson for First Lady Melania Trump welcomed the dismissal, stating that she will continue to defend her reputation against what the spokesperson described as false and defamatory allegations.
Melania Trump has repeatedly denied any association with Jeffrey Epstein or his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. She has stated that she never visited Epstein’s private island, never traveled aboard his aircraft, and had no knowledge of his criminal activities, describing claims suggesting otherwise as false.
The court’s decision does not address the merits of any potential defamation claim. Instead, it focuses solely on procedural issues, leaving open the possibility that Melania Trump could pursue legal action in the future should she choose to file a defamation lawsuit in the appropriate court. Meanwhile, Wolff has continued to defend his reporting and maintains that the legal dispute raises broader questions about free speech and press protections.
