WASHINGTON (TNND) — Author Michael Wolff says he plans to sue First Lady Melania Trump after receiving a legal threat demanding he retract comments linking her to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to Wolff, Melania Trump threatened to pursue $1 billion in damages if he did not withdraw statements he made alleging a connection between her and Epstein. Wolff addressed the dispute in an Instagram video, saying he would welcome the opportunity for sworn testimony in court.
“To be perfectly honest, I’d like nothing better than to get Donald Trump and Melania Trump under oath in front of a court reporter and actually find out all of the details of their relationship with Epstein,” Wolff said.
Wolff filed his lawsuit earlier this week in a Manhattan court.
In response, a spokesperson for Melania Trump strongly denied the allegations, calling them false and defamatory.
“First Lady Melania Trump is proud to continue standing up to those who spread malicious and defamatory falsehoods as they desperately try to get undeserved attention and money from their unlawful conduct,” the spokesperson said, according to The Associated Press.
Earlier this month, HarperCollins UK announced it would retract passages from a recently published book containing what it described as “unverified” claims that Melania Trump met her husband through Epstein.
“Copies of the book that include those references are being permanently removed from distribution,” the publisher said in a statement. “HarperCollins UK apologizes to the First Lady.”
Jeffrey Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minors and conspiracy. He had previously pleaded guilty in 2008 to state-level charges in Florida related to prostitution involving a minor.
