President Donald Trump's Brother Files New Suit Against Niece to Block Book on Family Relationships
The suit, which was filed by Robert Trump's attorney, Charles Harder, follows the speedy dismissal of a petition filed in Queens County Surrogate's Court in connection with the estate of Robert Trump's father, Fred Trump. A surrogate's court judge ruled Thursday that the case would not affect the administration of Fred Trump's estate "one iota."
June 26, 2020 at 04:14 PM
3 minute read
Charles Harder (left), The cover of Mary Trump's book Too Much and Never Enough- How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man (middle), and Robert Trump AP photo: Diane Bonadreff (right)
President Donald Trump's brother sued his niece in Dutchess County Supreme Court Friday in his latest attempt to block publication of her upcoming book about the president and his family.
The suit, which was filed by Robert Trump's attorney, Charles Harder, follows the speedy dismissal of a petition filed in Queens County Surrogate's Court in connection with the estate of Robert Trump's father, Fred Trump. A surrogate's court judge ruled Thursday that the case would not affect the administration of Fred Trump's estate "one iota."
The new filing repeats many of the arguments from the first petition, including that Mary Trump signed a confidentiality provision in the 2001 settlement agreement associated with Fred Trump's will. She allegedly agreed not to publish any account of her relationship with Donald Trump, Robert Trump, then-Judge Maryanne Trump Barry of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, or the directors and officers of two companies, according to the complaint.
The suit alleges breach of contract against Mary Trump and also names her publisher, Simon & Schuster, as a defendant. It was filed in Dutchess County because Robert Trump lives there, Harder said Friday.
The book, "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man," is set for publication July 28, according to Simon & Schuster's website. While Robert Trump has not yet reviewed the book, the defendants' comments to journalists and booksellers have made clear that it will violate the settlement agreement, Harder argued.
According to the complaint, Robert Trump is seeking a judgment permanently enjoining the defendants from "publishing or causing to be published any book, diary, memoir, story, interview, description or other account of Mary L. Trump's relationship" with her uncles and aunt, as prohibited by the settlement agreement. He's also asking for damages and a judicial declaration that statements in the book violate Mary Trump's obligations under the settlement agreement.
Mary Trump's attorney, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher partner Theodore Boutrous Jr., said in a statement Friday that the suit "will fail."
"This is yet another baseless attempt by the Trump family to obtain an unconstitutional prior restraint to block core political speech relating to the President," Boutrous said.
READ MORE:
Trump Sibling Seeks Order to Block Publication of Niece's Book About President
At Extraordinary Hearing, Judge Questions Power to Stop Bolton Book That's Been Widely Distributed
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