Melania Trump has urged a federal court to impose sanctions on journalist Michael Wolff, seeking relief and payment for legal costs and attorneys’ fees after her legal team successfully defended against his lawsuit. The motion was filed in the Southern District of New York.
Wolff, the author of "Fire and Fury," had sued the former first lady in an effort to preemptively seek a declaration that he would prevail if she were to sue him for defamation. Melania Trump's legal team accused Wolff of using the lawsuit as a platform for fundraising and a "political spectacle," rather than addressing the serious defamation claims.
According to the filing, Wolff falsely accused Mrs. Trump of being associated with Jeffrey Epstein. When she demanded a retraction of these statements, Wolff did not respond. Instead, he initiated legal action in a New York court, seeking advance approval of his statements and promoting the suit across his media platforms, reportedly raising over $836,000.
Manhattan Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil dismissed Wolff's lawsuit in May, characterizing it as "contorted almost beyond recognition." The judge wrote in her ruling that Wolff's request for a declaration that he would win if sued was not a valid function of federal courts.
Melania Trump's legal team asserted that sanctions are warranted irrespective of whether Wolff's statements are ultimately deemed defamatory. The motion states that Wolff filed a "patently meritless lawsuit" and used it to harass Mrs. Trump publicly. The grounds for sanctions, according to the filing, include unsupported federal submissions, the use of court papers for improper purposes, the multiplication of proceedings by Wolff's counsel, and findings that the action was presented in bad faith through forum shopping.
Melania Trump has consistently denied any connection to Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Court documents released earlier this year revealed that Wolff exchanged more than 1,000 messages with Epstein and referred to him as a "good friend."