Conflict Escalates Over Epstein Allegations
Melania Issues Final Ultimatum: "Retract Your Statement"
Hunter Responds With Profanity as Controversy Grows
Melania Trump, wife of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has announced plans for a massive defamation lawsuit against Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, signaling a hardline response. Melania's representatives have demanded that Hunter retract his statements regarding billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling them "completely fabricated false claims." However, Hunter has ignored these demands and responded with explicit insults.
Melania Trump, wife of former U.S. President Donald Trump, sent a warning message mentioning the possibility of a defamation lawsuit against Hunter Biden, the second son of former President Joe Biden. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
According to Yonhap News, which cited foreign media such as the Associated Press on August 13 (local time), Melania's legal representatives sent Hunter a warning letter, stating that "the offensive claims, based on blatant falsehoods, have seriously infringed upon Mrs. Trump's honor and privacy," and warned of legal action. Notably, the amount of damages being sought is as much as $1 billion (approximately 1.4 trillion won).
The controversy began when Hunter stated in an interview with a British media outlet that "Epstein introduced Melania to Trump." Epstein, who was charged with the sexual exploitation of minors, was found dead in a New York prison in 2019, shortly after his indictment. During his lifetime, Epstein boasted extensive connections among the U.S. political and business elite and had private interactions with former President Trump in the past.
Melania warned that she would file a lawsuit if Epstein did not apologize for claiming that he arranged a meeting between her and President Trump, but Hunter refused, saying "Screw you." Photo by AP Yonhap News
Hunter cited journalist Michael Wolff as the source of his statement. Wolff has previously sparked controversy with several books about Trump, and the Trump camp has criticized him as a "low-quality writer who publishes lies as news." The Daily Beast, the U.S. media outlet that reported the story, deleted the article and issued an official apology after Melania's legal team announced their intention to take legal action.
Nevertheless, Hunter has not backed down. In a video released on August 15, he said, "I have absolutely no intention of retracting my statement," and directly dismissed Melania's threat of a lawsuit using an expletive beginning with the letter 'F.' In the video, Hunter stated, "I don't care at all about that kind of warning."
The Trump couple maintains that they first met in 1998 at a social event during a fashion show in New York through a mutual acquaintance. Melania's official explanation is that while they knew Epstein privately in the past, he had no involvement in her meeting with Trump.
The conflict between these two politically symbolic figures appears to be escalating beyond simple defamation, showing signs of developing into a "clash between political families." Some U.S. media outlets have noted that "the shadows of Trump and Biden, the two former presidents, have now extended into a legal battle between their families," drawing attention to the potential fallout.
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