Federal Judge Dismisses Michael Wolff’s Preemptive Lawsuit Against Melania Trump

A federal judge has dismissed a preemptive lawsuit filed by author and journalist Michael Wolff against First Lady Melania Trump, ruling that the case was improperly brought before the court and criticizing its legal approach.

In a 45-page opinion issued Friday, U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil of the Southern District of New York declined to exercise jurisdiction over the case despite acknowledging that a genuine dispute exists between the parties. Vyskocil, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, described the lawsuit as a “contorted” filing marked by an “inappropriate level of tactical gamesmanship.”

“While Plaintiff and the First Lady have a real dispute, they must litigate it according to the same procedures as everyone else,” Vyskocil wrote. “Plaintiff asks for a declaration that, if the First Lady sues him, he deserves to win. That is not how the federal courts work.”

The dispute stems from comments Wolff made linking Melania Trump to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. In response to those remarks, Melania Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito, sent Wolff a demand letter requesting that he retract the statements and warning that failure to do so could result in a defamation lawsuit seeking substantial damages.

Rather than waiting for any lawsuit to be filed, Wolff initiated legal action in New York state court, seeking a declaration that his statements were protected by the First Amendment or had been taken out of context. He also argued that the Trump family has a history of using litigation to discourage criticism. The case was later transferred to federal court.

Following the ruling, a spokesperson for the First Lady welcomed the decision, stating that Melania Trump would continue defending her reputation against what the spokesperson described as false and defamatory claims.

Earlier this year, Melania Trump publicly denied any connection to Epstein or his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. She said she never visited Epstein’s private island, flew on his aircraft, or had any knowledge of his criminal conduct, calling the allegations false and defamatory.

The dismissal does not address the underlying defamation claims and leaves open the possibility of future litigation if Melania Trump chooses to pursue legal action in another jurisdiction. Wolff has continued to defend his reporting and argues that the legal pressure reflects a broader effort to intimidate critics.