Melania Trump's Daily Mail refiled lawsuit reveals she wants 'multi-million dollar' endorsements as First Lady
Lawsuit states she is 'one of the most photographed women in the world'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.US First Lady Melania Trump has re-filed a libel lawsuit against the Mail Online's publisher, Mail Media Inc, for reporting on rumours she worked as an escort.
In the new filing, made this time in New York, the first lady's attorneys argue the report damaged her ability to profit off her high profile.
Ms Trump, the filing states, had a "one-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to launch a commercial brand of multiple products.
It says each product "could have garnered multi-million dollar business relationships" during the term in which Ms Trump is First Lady and thus "one of the most photographed women in the world."
The lawsuit says those products could have included apparel, accessories, jewellery, cosmetics, hair care and fragrance, among others.
Ms Trump filed the previous lawsuit against Mail Media Inc after it ran a story citing a Slovenian magazine's report that a modelling agency she worked with in New York in the 1990s also served as an escort business, linking wealthy clients with women for sexual services.
The Mail Online has since retracted the story, which it headlined: “Naked photoshoots, and troubling questions about visas that won’t go away: The VERY racy past of Donald Trump’s Slovenian wife."
The posting said it “did not intend to state or suggest that these allegations are true, nor did it intend to state or suggest that Mrs. Trump ever worked as an 'escort' or in the 'sex business.'”
Ms Trump's lawsuit was previously dismissed by a judge in Maryland.
The lawsuit, now filed in New York, where the corporation has offices, seeks compensatory and punitive damages of at least $150m (£121m).
She is also suing US blogger Webster Tarpley for reporting the rumours. The lawsuit against Mr Tarpley has been allowed to go ahead in Maryland.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments