[Melania Trump's] lawsuit asserts the escort story damaged her chances of profiting from her high profile, which expanded when she married Donald Trump in 2005 but has soared since he was elected president in November and the Slovenian native became the first foreign-born first lady in nearly two centuries.
Trump's filing claims she "had the unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as an extremely famous and well-known person, as well as a former professional model, brand spokesperson and successful businesswoman, to launch a broad-based commercial brand in multiple product categories, each of which could have garnered multi-million dollar business relationships for a multi-year term during which Plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world.”
Those product categories could have included apparel, accessories, jewelry, cosmetics, hair care and fragrance, among others, the lawsuit says.
But hold the outrage — Trump's attorney, California media lawyer Charles Harder, insists that doesn't mean she intends to monetize her new role as critics have implied.
"The first lady has no intention of using her position for profit and will not do so," Harder said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY. "It is not a possibility. Any statements to the contrary are being misinterpreted."
But when pressed for a reason for why her lawsuit contains such language, Harder did not respond.
--USA Today