Hunter Biden has rejected a $1 billion legal threat from first lady Melania Trump over remarks linking her to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, dismissing the demand for a retraction and apology as an intimidation tactic.
In a new interview posted Thursday on "Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan," Biden was shown the Aug. 6 demand letter from Melania's attorney, Alejandro Brito, and responded, "F*** that. That's not going to happen." The letter accused Biden of making "false, disparaging, defamatory, and inflammatory" statements during a July interview in which he cited author Michael Wolff's claim that Epstein introduced Melania to Donald Trump.
Brito gave Biden until Aug. 7 to retract the remarks or face a lawsuit seeking $1 billion in damages for "overwhelming financial and reputational harm." Fox News reported that Biden did not comply and instead leaked the letter to a journalist. The first lady's legal team has taken similar action against other public figures over Epstein-related speculation, including securing a retraction from the Daily Beast and an apology from Democratic strategist James Carville.
In his July appearance with Callaghan, Biden alleged that Epstein and Trump "were very close friends for a very long period of time" and "spent an enormous amount of time together around young women," adding, "According to his biographer, Jeffrey Epstein introduced Melania." Biden said he was referencing multiple sources, including a 2019 New York Times report in which, he claimed, sources said Epstein took credit for the introduction.
Melania and Donald Trump have consistently stated they met in 1998 at a New York Fashion Week party hosted by modeling agent Paolo Zampolli, a version recounted in Melania's memoir. In that account, the future president approached her at their table, and the two began a conversation that eventually led to their 2005 marriage.
Brito's letter called Wolff a "serial fabulist" and accused Biden of leveraging the Trump name for personal attention. "Given your vast history of trading on the names of others - including your surname - for your personal benefit, it is obvious that you published these false and defamatory statements about Mrs. Trump to draw attention to yourself," Brito wrote.
Biden, for his part, challenged the Trumps to sit for a deposition on the nature of their relationship with Epstein. "If they want to sit down for a deposition and clarify... I'm more than happy to provide them the platform to be able to do it," he said.
