DOJ sues former advisor to Melania Trump over new tell-all book News
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DOJ sues former advisor to Melania Trump over new tell-all book

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) sued Melania Trump’s former advisor, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Tuesday for violating a nondisclosure agreement in her new tell-all book.

In 2017, after Donald Trump had been elected president, Wolkoff volunteered to serve as an advisor to Melania Trump. Upon assuming this position, Wolkoff was required to sign a Gratuitous Service Agreement. Pursuant to this agreement, Wolkoff promised to “maintain strict confidentiality over nonpublic, privileged and/or confidential information” and “take reasonable measures” to protect such information “from unauthorized disclosure.” This agreement also prohibited Wolkoff from “publishing, reproducing or otherwise divulging any such information to any unauthorized person or entity in whole or in part.”

However, the DOJ asserts that Wolkoff violated these “binding commitments” by publishing a “scathing tell-all.” The complaint argues that Wolkoff did not seek or receive permission from the First Lady or any of her representatives to publish her book. The complaint also alleges that the book divulges information about President Trump’s travel ban and other policy matters, which were subject to confidentiality.

As a result of violating her nondisclosure agreement, the DOJ seeks to have the court declare that Wolkoff breached her fiduciary duty and impose a constructive trust over all of the benefits Wolkoff seeks to derive from this publication.