A federal judge has dismissed journalist Michael Wolff’s lawsuit against First Lady Melania Trump, criticizing the case as an improper use of the federal court system.
U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, described the lawsuit as a “contorted” legal maneuver and said it represented “an inappropriate level of tactical gamesmanship.” Although she acknowledged that both parties have a legitimate dispute, Vyskocil said federal court was not the proper venue for the case.
“I will not be drafted to oversee an abusively presented spat,” the Manhattan judge wrote, adding that the matter should instead proceed through the normal legal process. While she found that federal jurisdiction technically existed, she declined to exercise it and dismissed the case so it could be litigated elsewhere.
The dispute began after Melania Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito, sent Wolff a letter demanding that he retract and remove statements he had made about the first lady, warning that legal action would follow if he failed to do so. In response, Wolff filed suit in New York state court in October. The case was later moved to federal court at the request of Trump’s legal team.
A spokesperson for the first lady welcomed the decision, saying Melania Trump “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.”
Melania Trump’s legal team has previously argued that comments made by Wolff caused her significant reputational and financial damage. The controversy centers in part on remarks connected to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.
The first lady has repeatedly denied any association with Epstein and has strongly condemned allegations linking her to him.
“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” Melania Trump said during an April press conference. “The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility, and respect. I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.”
In his lawsuit, Wolff argued that the Trumps have routinely used expensive legal threats to silence critics and discourage unfavorable reporting. He also maintained that some of his comments were either taken out of context or constituted protected opinion, including remarks describing the Trumps’ relationship as a “sham marriage” or “trophy marriage.”
Wolff further stated that he never accused Melania Trump of participating in any criminal activity related to Epstein.
The dispute gained additional attention after The Daily Beast retracted a 2025 article titled “Melania Trump ‘Very Involved’ in Epstein Scandal: Author,” which relied on comments made by Wolff. Following a legal letter from Brito, the outlet withdrew the story. Wolff later clarified that he meant Melania Trump had been involved behind the scenes in managing the political fallout at the White House, not that she had engaged in criminal conduct.
The controversy has also drawn reactions from lawmakers. Republican Rep. Nancy Mace praised the first lady for speaking out on issues related to Epstein and for advocating legislation targeting the distribution of non-consensual intimate images.
Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia likewise supported calls for additional public scrutiny, urging House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer to hold hearings and allow victims to testify under oath.
Melania Trump has called on Congress to take further action, saying, “Now is the time for Congress to act,” and urging lawmakers to ensure that victims are given the opportunity to testify publicly under oath.
