Judge dismisses lawsuit brought by author Michael Wolff against Melania Trump

Wolff’s suit aimed to head off billion-dollar legal action brought by first lady over statements linking her to Epstein

Melania Trump has won the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by author Michael Wolff designed to head off a billion-dollar defamation action brought by the first lady over statements he made in the media.

The US district judge Mary Kay Vyskocil said that Wolff’s claim against Trump under anti-Slapp statutes, which are designed to allow defendants to quickly dismiss meritless, intimidating lawsuits, was “preemptive” and presented in a “somewhat contorted posture”.