Author Michael Wolff filed a lawsuit within the New York Supreme Court on Tuesday (October 21), accusing Melania Trump of utilizing a billion-dollar authorized menace to muzzle his reporting about her alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

NBC News studies the writer of “Fire and Fury” claims the First Lady’s authorized crew tried to strong-arm him into silence after he mentioned her supposed connection to the late financier and convicted sex offender throughout an interview with The Daily Beast.

That article, titled “Melania Trump’ Very Involved’ in Epstein Scandal: Author,” was later pulled with an apology from the outlet, which admitted the piece “did not meet our standards.”

According to the lawsuit, Melania’s lawyer, Alejandro Brito, issued a cease-and-desist letter demanding that Wolff retract his statements, apologize, and supply a monetary settlement. The letter additionally referenced Wolff’s feedback on the outlet’s podcast.

Wolff’s authorized submitting describes the menace as an try and suppress free speech. “Mrs. Trump’s claims are made for the sole purpose of harassing, intimidating, punishing or otherwise maliciously inhibiting Mr. Wolff’s free exercise of speech,” the grievance reads.

Wolff, who has made a profession out of chronicling political drama, mentioned his phrases had been misrepresented and insists he by no means defamed Melania.

His attorneys argue the Trump camp is utilizing authorized threats to stifle public curiosity reporting on Epstein’s connections to influential figures.

Michael Wolff Wants To Depose Donald & Melania Trump Over Jeffrey Epstein Relationship

In a video posted to Instagram, Wolff didn’t maintain again, saying, “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.”

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A post shared by Michael Wolff (@michaelwolffnyc)

Melania’s spokesperson responded with a pointy rebuke, saying she “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.”

Wolff additionally claims he spent “many hours of interviews of Jeffrey Epstein over several years” and alleges the Trump household has tried to “impede and suppress” scrutiny into their ties to Epstein.

Epstein died by suicide in 2019 whereas in federal custody, awaiting trial on sex trafficking prices. The Justice Department closed its investigation into the matter in July with out submitting new prices, although the case continues to gas hypothesis.

Neither Melania nor Donald Trump has been formally accused of wrongdoing in Epstein’s felony case.

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