Melania Trump is bringing a $150 million libel lawsuit against Daily Mail after the newspaper published an article seemingly linking her to dubious allegations of running and working for an escort service both in New York City and her native Slovenia. Although the article merely pointed to the allegations others had already made, Ms. Trump still believed it went too far.
The site's editorial staff apparently agreed, and issued a retraction on Thursday. "To the extent that anything in the Daily Mail's article was interpreted as stating or suggesting that Mrs. Trump worked as an 'escort' or in the 'sex business,' that she had a 'composite or presentation card for the sex business,' or that either of the modeling agencies referenced in the article were engaged in these businesses, it is hereby retracted, and the Daily Mail newspaper regrets any such misinterpretation," it read.
The blogger named in the lawsuit, Webster G. Tarpley, released a statement:
“We are confident that Mrs. Trump will not be able to meet her high burden of proving the statements published about her on my website were defamatory in any way. Her lawsuit is a blatant attempt to intimidate not only me but journalists of all stripes into remaining silent with regard to public figures. This lawsuit is a direct affront to First Amendment principles and free speech in our democratic society.”
Melania Trump is being represented in the lawsuit by Charles Harder, the lawyer who represented Hulk Hogan in his lawsuit against the now defunct Gawker.
"These defendants made several statements about Mrs. Trump that are 100% false and tremendously damaging to her personal and professional reputation," Harder said in a statement.
