First lady Melania Trump has filed a motion for sanctions against journalist Michael Wolff, seeking reimbursement for costs and attorneys' fees incurred during Wolff's unsuccessful lawsuit against her. The motion, filed Tuesday, comes after a federal judge dismissed Wolff's suit earlier this year, deeming it a "contorted" effort that did not align with federal court procedures.
In the filing, Trump's legal team, led by Alejandro Brito, asserted that sanctions are warranted for multiple reasons, including Wolff's alleged attempt to create a jurisdictional dispute to keep the case in New York state court, the use of litigation for improper purposes, and the filing of a "frivolous" claim. According to the first lady's legal team, Wolff's lawsuit was a "fundraising drive and a political spectacle."
The dispute originated from statements Wolff made regarding Melania Trump's alleged involvement with Jeffrey Epstein. Trump's legal team had previously sent a pre-action notice under Florida's anti-defamation law, demanding a retraction and apology for the statements. The filing claims Wolff did not respond to this notice but instead filed his own lawsuit against the first lady.
Trump has publicly denied any association with Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was officially ruled a suicide.
Wolff, an author known for his books on the Trump administration, including "Fire and Fury," has not yet responded to a request for comment. The Daily Beast previously retracted an article based on an interview with Wolff that alleged Melania Trump was "very involved" in the Epstein scandal, after receiving a letter from Trump's legal team.