Prominent author sues Melania Trump before she does

Best-selling author Michael Wolff has filed a lawsuit against Melania Trump, citing «assault on free speech» after she allegedly threatened to sue him for 1 billion dollars over claims he made linking her to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

«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 maintains that his reporting is protected by the First Amendment.

Epstein, Trump and the interviews that started it all

In a video posted on social media, author Michael Wolff said he has «written four books about Donald Trump» and that, before Jeffrey Epstein’s death, he had «extensively interviewed» the financier, including about his ties to Trump.

«They are filed or threatened anyway to intimidate people from talking about this exact subject.»

Wolff added that he has «spoken publicly about aspects of those interviews, including the things Epstein said about his relationship with both Donald Trump and Melania Trump.»

Melania’s billion-dollar threat

Wolff said that «several days ago» he was notified by lawyers representing Melania Trump that they intend to sue him for one billion dollars over his public statements. He added that «they’ve threatened and sued other people for related statements about Melania Trump’s relationship with Epstein.»

Describing such actions as «SLAPP suits»—strategic lawsuits against public participation—Wolff said these cases «may have no hope whatsoever of proving defamation, but they are filed or threatened anyway to intimidate people from talking about this exact subject.»

«A very fruitful way to finally open this dark curtain and find out what Donald Trump, Melania Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were doing together.»

Turning the tables on the Trumps

Wolff went on to say that he «can’t live like that,» referring to what he described as intimidation through legal threats.

«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,» he said.

Declaring that he was «turning the tables on the Trumps and refusing to acquiesce,» Wolff added that his lawyers had filed a motion in a New York court seeking a declaratory judgment — giving them subpoena power to call witnesses and determine «exactly what the relationship between Epstein and the Trumps was.»

«I can’t live like that.»

-Michael Wolff

A costly but revealing battle

Wolff concluded his video by acknowledging that the legal battle ahead «is going to be an expensive effort,» saying he plans to seek public support to help fund it.

He added that he believes the case could become «a very fruitful way to finally open this dark curtain and find out what Donald Trump, Melania Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were doing together.»