A federal judge in Manhattan dismissed journalist Michael Wolff’s lawsuit against First Lady Melania Trump on Monday, rejecting his effort to preempt her $1 billion defamation claim stemming from his statements linking her to Jeffrey Epstein.
Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, an appointee of President Donald Trump, called Wolff’s legal maneuver a “contorted” approach and said the case should move forward through normal state court proceedings. The ruling clears a procedural hurdle that had delayed Trump’s ability to pursue her defamation action against the author.
What Happened
Wolff filed suit in October after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Trump’s legal team demanding he retract statements about her alleged ties to the convicted financier. The letter warned that the first lady would pursue legal action if he did not comply. Rather than comply, Wolff filed a preemptive lawsuit in state court, later moved to federal court by Trump’s attorney Alejandro Brito, seeking to prevent her from suing him.
Vyskocil acknowledged federal jurisdiction over the case but chose not to exercise it, saying such disputes are better resolved through ordinary state court litigation. “It’s an inappropriate level of tactical gamesmanship,” the judge said during the proceeding. She declined to oversee what she characterized as “an abusively presented spat,” though she recognized both parties have legitimate disagreements.
The Reaction
A spokesperson for the first lady said Trump remains committed to defending her reputation. “The first lady is proud to continue standing up to, and fighting against, those who spread malicious and defamatory falsehoods as they desperately try to get undeserved attention and money from their unlawful conduct,” the statement read.
In an April press conference, Trump directly addressed the allegations. “The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” she said. “The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility, and respect. I do not object to their ignorance, but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.”
Wolff has maintained that some of his statements were protected opinion and that others were taken out of context. He argued in his complaint that Trump and the president “have made a practice of threatening those who speak against them” with costly litigation designed to silence critics and extract settlements. He also noted that The Daily Beast retracted an article based on his statements after receiving the cease-and-desist letter.
What This Means
The dismissal moves Trump’s defamation case forward into state court, where she can proceed without the complication of Wolff’s preemptive federal lawsuit. Her team has alleged that statements by Wolff caused her “overwhelming reputational and financial harm.” Trump has consistently denied any association with Epstein, who died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The legal proceedings now advance toward adjudication on the substantive merits of Trump’s claims rather than remaining stalled by procedural disputes. Both parties are expected to engage in discovery and pretrial motions before any potential trial date is set.
