Melania's lawsuit could backfire on Trump, Inc-- Bigly:
We can all thank Melania Trump for giving us a clearer sense of what she and her family are looking for from their stay in the White House.
In court papers Melania filed on Monday as part of a libel lawsuit against the parent company of the Daily Mail, she said that the British tabloid and web site, by falsely reporting that she had once worked as a prostitute, caused the first lady to miss “major business opportunities” and “multimillion-dollar relationships.”
The lawsuit, first reported by the New York Post on Tuesday evening, said Melania’s missed deals would have involved such products as “apparel, accessories, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, hair care, skin care, and fragrance.”
Melania’s role as first lady to President Donald Trump would have offered her a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity to cash in on such deals, the lawsuit noted, but the reputational damage done by the Daily Mail had disrupted those plans. Amid a little swirl of social media attention for the case yesterday, Melania’s spokespeople said that reporters and others had misinterpreted the language in the suit and that the first lady had “no intention” of trying to profit from her White House role.
Since she is seeking at least $150 million in damages stemming from missed business opportunities, the lawyers representing the Daily Mail should eventually avail themselves of their discovery powers to secure each and every e-mail, communique and document about White House business prospects that the Trump parents and children discussed. They should also subpoena the Trump family’s tax returns and banking records while they’re at it.
If President Trump isn’t inclined to release his tax returns or be more transparent about his business dealings, then maybe the courts can help him along.
bloomberg.com |
