Michael Wolff’s legal letter to Donald Trump is unfailingly polite and utterly devastating
Michael Wolff’s lawyers have written a letter to Donald Trump after the president tried to ban his tell-all White House book, Fire and Fury.
This must be why the legal eagles earn the big bucks. It’s the very definition of ‘politely devastating’.
This politely devastating letter from Michael Wolff's lawyers to Donald Trump's lawyers really did hit the spot. Thanks to the many people who threw it my way. Let's take a look at some other Legal Letters of Note *gestures towards thread*
Full letter: https://t.co/bAdJqOrCDG pic.twitter.com/FIOuIp1CJA
— Letters of Note (@LettersOfNote) January 10, 2018
Just in case it’s tricky to read, here’s a highlight or two.
“We have no reason to doubt – and your letter provides no reason to change this conclusion – that Mr Wolff’s book is an accurate report on events of vital public importance.
“Mr Trump is the President of the United States with the largest ‘bully pulpit’ at his disposal. To the extent that he disputes any statement in the book, he has the largest platform in the world to challenge it.
“Generalised and abstract threats of libel do not provide any basis for President Trump’s demand that Henry Holt and Mr Wolff withdraw the book from public discourse.
“Though your letter provides a basic summary of New York libel law, tellingly, it stops short of identifying a single statement in the book that is factually false or defamatory.
“Instead, the letter appears to be designed to silence legitimate criticism. This is the antithesis of an actionable libel claim.”
Or, to step outside of legal terminology for one second…
Yes. 💥 pic.twitter.com/MTa5shEglH
— Brighton Starling (@brightstarling) January 10, 2018
I’m a lawyer. I would have loved to have written that last line. That’s the type of legal correspondence that makes me happy.
— IamWombles (@iamwombles) January 10, 2018