NEW YORK (AP) — A judge has dismissed Michael Wolff’s lawsuit against first lady Melania Trump on Friday. The judge determined that Wolff’s attempt to block her from pursuing a $1 billion lawsuit over his statements about her and Jeffrey Epstein was “not how the federal courts work.”
Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil in Manhattan’s federal court criticized both parties for engaging in “an inappropriate level of tactical gamesmanship” and stated she would not participate in their “abusively presented spat.”
Appointed by President Donald Trump, Vyskocil acknowledged that Wolff and Melania Trump “have a real dispute,” but insisted they must follow standard legal procedures to resolve it.
Wolff filed the lawsuit against Melania Trump last October after her lawyer, Alejandro Brito, warned him that she would have no choice but to sue if he did not retract statements that allegedly caused her “overwhelming reputational and financial harm.”
Initially, Wolff brought the lawsuit to New York state court, but Brito transferred it to federal court. In a 45-page decision, Vyskocil noted that while federal court has jurisdiction, she chose to dismiss the case, stating it should proceed like any other case.
Nick Clemens, Melania Trump’s spokesperson, said she “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.”
In April, Melania Trump publicly denied any connection to Epstein, the financier and convicted sex offender who died in jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges.
During prepared remarks, the first lady stated she and her legal team were combating “unfound and baseless lies” implying she had ties to Epstein.
“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” Melania Trump declared. “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 contends in his lawsuit that the Trumps have a history of threatening those who criticize them with expensive legal actions to stifle dissent, intimidate critics, and demand unwarranted payments and confessions.
He claims these threats are meant to create fear, preventing people from exercising their First Amendment rights freely and confidently.
Wolff, a seasoned author, has published a dozen books, including four bestsellers about the president.
In his lawsuit, Wolff said Melania Trump’s lawsuit threat was linked to his statements made to The Daily Beast and in three social media videos. He claimed some statements were incomplete and out of context.
Others, according to the lawsuit, were protected speech. The claim that the Trumps were in a “sham marriage, trophy marriage” was described as a “fair and justified” opinion.
The lawsuit emphasized that Wolff never accused Melania Trump of involvement in Epstein’s crimes.
In July 2025, following Brito’s letter, The Daily Beast retracted an article titled, “Melania Trump ‘Very Involved’ in Epstein Scandal: Author,” which was based on an interview with Wolff.
Wolff stated his remarks referred to the first lady’s role in handling the situation “behind the scenes” at the White House, not to any involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities.
Wolff also claimed as true his statements about Melania Trump meeting Donald Trump in Epstein’s social circle and that Donald Trump allegedly engaged in affairs with his friends’ wives and first slept with Melania Trump on Epstein’s private jet.
Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Washington contributed.
