Judge dismisses lawsuit brought by author Michael Wolff against Melania Trump
The Guardian • • world
Key Points:
- Melania Trump won the dismissal of a preemptive lawsuit filed by author Michael Wolff, who sought to block her billion-dollar defamation suit over his comments related to Jeffrey Epstein.
- US District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil ruled Wolff’s claim under anti-SLAPP statutes was premature and an attempt to litigate out of order, describing it as “textbook bad-faith forum shopping.”
- The judge emphasized that Wolff and Trump have a legitimate dispute but must follow standard legal procedures, dismissing Wolff’s case to be litigated alongside Trump’s defamation suit in Florida.
- Melania Trump’s spokesperson stated she is committed to fighting defamatory falsehoods, while Trump herself denied any affiliation with Epstein, condemning the allegations as baseless and damaging to her reputation.
- The ruling highlights ongoing legal battles surrounding Epstein-related claims and the Trump family, with the court refusing to intervene prematurely in the defamation dispute.