Melania Trump Sues Daily Mail For Defamation Following Escort Story

Melania Trump attends the TIME 100 Gala, celebrating the 100 most influential people in the world, at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Melania Trump filed a $150 million lawsuit against The Daily Mail on Thursday for reporting what she said was a false story about her about her involvement in an escort service, CNN Money reported.

The suit, filed in state court in Montgomery County, Maryland, alleged that stories in The Daily Mail and a blog called Tarpley, which was also named as a defendant, made statements that were hurtful to Trump’s career and personal life.

“These defendants made several statements about Mrs. Trump that are 100% false and tremendously damaging to her personal and professional reputation,” Trump’s lawyer, Charles Harder, said in a statement, as quoted by CNN Money.

“Defendants broadcast their lies to millions of people throughout the U.S. and the world—without any justification,” the statement from Harder continued. “Their many lies include, among others, that Mrs. Trump supposedly was an ‘escort’ in the 1990s before she met her husband. Defendants’ actions are so egregious, malicious and harmful to Mrs. Trump that her damages are estimated at $150 million dollars.”

Harder had represented the wrestler Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, in the defamation suit he won against Gawker Media and that ended up bankrupting that company. He served the Daily Mail and at least eight other outlets last week with a notice of possible legal action.

Tarpley issued a retraction and an apology for its post prior to being sued, as Guardian writer Ben Jacobs pointed out.

Latest Livewire
104
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Thank FSM, Chuck Harder is on this case.

  2. OK…how about stripper?

  3. Yes, a high-profile defamation suit is surely the way to put these rumors to rest. Just keep stirring that pot.

    For a good time, call Melania. #MelaniaTramp

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

98 more replies

Participants

Avatar for paulw Avatar for xpurg8d Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for old_curmudgeon Avatar for imkmu3 Avatar for adabsurdum Avatar for teenlaqueefa Avatar for inlabsitrust Avatar for inversion Avatar for chelsea530 Avatar for nymund Avatar for hora_del_cafe Avatar for fiftygigs Avatar for pshah Avatar for sjk Avatar for antisachetdethe Avatar for misterneutron Avatar for pmaroneyb Avatar for akzim2015 Avatar for tiowally Avatar for 12trop12 Avatar for charliedontsurf Avatar for katscherger Avatar for centralasiaexpat

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: