Ankara: US first lady Melania Trump has threatened to sue Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, for $1 billion over what she referred to as "false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory statements."
According to Anadolu Agency, the controversy erupted following an August 5 podcast in which Hunter Biden alleged that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein introduced Melania to Donald Trump. Hunter Biden's remarks have been labeled by Melania Trump's legal team as both damaging and unsubstantiated.
In response, Melania Trump's attorney issued a formal notice to Hunter Biden and his legal representative, demanding a retraction of the statements in question. The attorney emphasized that failure to comply would compel Melania Trump to seek legal recourse to address the purported financial and reputational damage inflicted upon her.
The legal notice further instructed Hunter Biden to retain all relevant evidence, including communications and documentation regarding Melania Trump and the disputed claims. It also warned of the potential for a lawsuit exceeding $1 billion in damages should Biden fail to respond by the August 7 deadline, as reported by Fox News.
A source informed Fox News Digital that Hunter Biden did not meet the deadline for compliance. Meanwhile, similar claims previously published by The Daily Beast were retracted, accompanied by an apology following a legal challenge from Melania Trump.
Political strategist James Carville was also implicated after repeating the allegation on his podcast. He subsequently edited out the segment and issued an apology after receiving a legal notice.
An aide to Melania Trump conveyed to Fox News Digital that her legal team is actively pursuing retractions and apologies from those disseminating the false claims. The aide mentioned that Melania Trump's best-selling book details the true story of her introduction to Donald Trump.
Jeffrey Epstein, central to these allegations, committed suicide in 2019 while in a New York jail, following his conviction on charges related to prostitution.