Melania Trump has threatened to sue Hunter Biden unless he retracts comments linking her to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a legal letter sent to the former president's son.
The letter, dated 6 August and first reported by Fox News Digital, was sent by Melania Trump's lawyer, Alejandro Brito. It describes Biden's remarks as false, defamatory and “extremely salacious”, and argues that they have caused the first lady “overwhelming financial and reputational harm”.
Biden made the comments during an interview with US journalist Andrew Callaghan, in which he claimed that “Epstein introduced Melania to Trump”. He attributed the claim to the author Michael Wolff, whose accounts have been disputed by President Donald Trump. In a follow-up interview from a holiday location, Biden declined to apologise, saying: “Uh, fuck that, not going to happen.” He cited the New York Times and Vanity Fair as sources for his assertions.
The president responded on Thursday morning, telling Fox News Radio host Brian Kilmeade that he had encouraged his wife to sue. He said: “Jeffrey Epstein had nothing to do with Melania and introducing.” He also confirmed that the first lady has long maintained that she was introduced to Trump by modelling agent Paolo Zampolli at a New York fashion week party in 1998.
Abbe Lowell, who has represented Hunter Biden in criminal cases, did not respond to a request for comment on the letter, which also threatens legal action if a retraction is not issued.
