() Hunter Biden said he would not retract comments he recently made suggesting a possible connection between first lady Melania Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, despite her threat of a lawsuit.
“F— that. That’s not going to happen,” Biden said of Melania Trump’s demand.
The comment in question was made during an interview in early August on “Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan,” in which Biden alleged Epstein introduced the first lady and now-President Donald Trump.
In a letter to Biden, Melania Trump’s lawyer demanded he “immediately retract the false, defamatory, disparaging and inflammatory statements made about Mrs. Trump,” as well as “immediately issue an apology.” The letter was dated Aug. 6 and was first reported Wednesday by Fox News Digital.
The letter alleged Biden’s commentary caused Melania Trump to suffer “overwhelming financial and reputational harm,” and directed him “not to destroy, conceal or alter in any way” documents or files related to his claims. If Biden did not comply with these demands by Aug. 7, the letter stated, the first lady would seek $1 billion in damages.
On Thursday, Biden responded to the letter in another appearance on “Channel 5,” in which he said he welcomed a deposition with the Trumps about their associations with Epstein.
Biden attributed his comments linking Melania Trump and Epstein to previous reports, specifically by author Michael Wolff. In July, the Daily Beast removed an article Wolff had written alleging the first lady’s introduction to Trump had ties to Epstein. In its place, an editor’s note has now appeared.
“After this story was published, The Beast received a letter from First Lady Melania Trump’s attorney challenging the headline and framing of the article,” the note reads. “After reviewing the matter, the Beast has taken down the article and apologizes for any confusion or misunderstanding.”
