U.S. Justice Department accuses Melania Trump book author of breaking nondisclosure pact

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S. LEGAL NEWS
OCTOBER 13, 2020 3:25 PM UPDATED 5 MINUTES AGO

U.S. Justice Department accuses Melania Trump book author of breaking nondisclosure pact

By Steve Holland
3 MIN READ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday accused Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, author of a tell-all book about first lady Melania Trump, of breaking their nondisclosure agreement and asked a court to set aside profits from the book in a government trust.

In a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, Justice Department lawyers said Winston Wolkoff, a former aide who fell out with the first lady, failed to submit to government review a draft of her book, “Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady,” which offers an unflattering portrayal of President Donald Trump’s wife.

Lawyers for Winston Wolkoff were not immediately available to respond to a request for comment.

The complaint said the Justice Department has jurisdiction in the case because of the first lady’s traditional public role dating back to Martha Washington, wife of the first U.S. president, George Washington.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-melania/u-s-justice-department-accuses-melania-trump-book-author-of-breaking-nondisclosure-pact-idUSKBN26Y2VV

[dalton99a]

1. "And the Justice Department has jurisdiction because of Martha Washington"

[TheBlackAdder]

14. Someone should ask ACB to research that and Trump's postponement of elections for next session.

[PatSeg]

2. Seriously?

Sure took them a long time to respond.

[vapor2]

3. I think trump's NDAs don't hold much water?

I have the book and the more reason to finish it.

[octoberlib]

4. Wtf? They're Melania's personal lawyers now too?

[SoonerPride]

7. trump can't or won't pay private attorneys

the only attorneys working for him are paid by you and me.

[Turbineguy]

5. Wouldn't that be a civil matter?

[SoonerPride]

6. Melanoma ain't a government employee

[The Magistrate]

8. How Is This A Matter For The Justice Department, Sir?

At worst it is a contractual dispute between two private persons.

[aquamarina]

9. And exactly why would the DoJ give a rat's

ass about an NDA between two private parties? And why should the US taxpayer via the DoJ be anywhere near this? Hopefully there will be some serious deep cleaning at the DoJ starting 1/20/2021.

[Goonch]

10. ;-{)

[Autumn]

11. Damn it. Barr must be well enough to pick up a phone.

[Laelth]

12. Barr has no shame.

His job is to represent the United States, not Melania Trump.



-Laelth

[TeamPooka]

13. Private NDA's are illegal for govt employees and if she didn't have a security clearance she doesn't

need to get the book cleared.

[Retrograde]

15. That may be, but Winston Wolkoff

said mean things about Melania - mainly about her being just like her husband - so she has to retaliate like her husband does. Too bad the cat was let out of the bag over 6 weeks ago and everyone who was going to buy the book already has.

Wait a minute - maybe this is just a convoluted attempt to jack up sales for "Melania and Me". Confession: I borrowed it from the library - neither woman comes across as a person I'd like to spend time with.

[Ninga]

16. What this means is this poor woman who hitched her wagon to Melania's tarnished star. Is

going to incur huge legal bills defending herself.

They already won.

[Hugin]

17. Uh, I thought the DoJ was The Constitution's lawyer.

Not about enforcing unenforceable private civil NDAs.

Geezus! It's bad right now. There needs to be some public 'splainin and try'n and finein' and jail'n to restore any confidence at all in the Judicial system in the US.