Federal Judge Dismisses Michael Wolff’s Preemptive Lawsuit Against First Lady

Clear Facts

• Manhattan federal judge dismissed journalist Michael Wolff’s lawsuit against First Lady Melania Trump, calling it “contorted” and improper use of federal courts
• Wolff had sued to prevent Mrs. Trump from filing her own defamation lawsuit over his claims about alleged Epstein connections
• Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil criticized both parties for “tactical gamesmanship” but declined to oversee what she termed an “abusively presented spat”

A federal judge in Manhattan delivered a decisive blow to journalist Michael Wolff’s legal strategy on Friday, dismissing his preemptive lawsuit against First Lady Melania Trump. Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil described Wolff’s attempt as “contorted” and declared it “not how the federal courts work.”

Wolff had filed the lawsuit in an attempt to block the First Lady from pursuing her threatened $1 billion defamation action against him. The dispute centers on statements Wolff made regarding Mrs. Trump’s alleged involvement with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Judge Vyskocil, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, sharply criticized the legal maneuvering by both parties. While acknowledging that Wolff and the First Lady have a “real dispute,” she made clear she would not allow her court to be used for what she characterized as an “inappropriate level of tactical gamesmanship.”

“I will not be conscripted to oversee an abusively presented spat,” Vyskocil wrote in her ruling.

The legal battle began last year when Mrs. Trump’s attorney sent Wolff a letter demanding he retract statements he made about the First Lady and warning that she would have “no alternative” but to pursue legal action if he refused. Rather than comply, Wolff filed a state lawsuit against Mrs. Trump in October, which was subsequently transferred to federal court.

Despite having jurisdiction over the case, Judge Vyskocil exercised her discretion to dismiss it, directing that the matter “be litigated like any other” case through proper legal channels.

A spokesperson for the First Lady issued a statement Friday emphasizing Mrs. Trump’s commitment 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.”

Mrs. Trump’s legal team has argued that Wolff’s statements caused her “overwhelming reputational and financial harm.” The 56-year-old First Lady has consistently and categorically denied any association with Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges.

At an April press conference, Mrs. Trump delivered a forceful denunciation of those linking her name to the disgraced financier.

“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today. 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.”

In his lawsuit, Wolff claimed that the President and First Lady “have made a practice of threatening those who speak against them” with costly legal actions “to silence their speech, to intimidate their critics generally, and to extract unjustified payments and North Korean style confessions and apologies.”

Wolff attempted to defend his statements by arguing some were taken out of context while others constituted protected opinion. He specifically cited his characterization of the Trumps’ marriage as a “sham marriage, trophy marriage,” which his lawsuit claimed was a “fair and justified” opinion. His legal filing also asserted that he never accused the First Lady of criminal involvement in activities associated with Epstein.

The controversy gained additional attention when a major online publication retracted an article last summer titled “Melania Trump ‘Very Involved’ in Epstein Scandal: Author,” which was based on an interview with Wolff. The outlet pulled the story after receiving a letter from Mrs. Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito.

Wolff has maintained that in the interview, he only claimed the First Lady was managing the matter “behind the scenes” at the White House, not that she was criminally involved. The author has written four books about President Trump: “Fire and Fury,” “Siege,” “Landslide,” and “All or Nothing.”

With this dismissal, the legal landscape now shifts back to where it began—with Mrs. Trump retaining the option to pursue her defamation claims against Wolff through standard legal procedures. The judge’s ruling effectively rejects Wolff’s attempt to use federal court as a shield against potential litigation.

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