Melania Trump sues 'Daily Mail' for ruining her, um, chance to make millions

While President Trump continues to churn up controversy over his potential business conflicts of interests while in the White House, First Lady Melania Trump's new lawsuit implies that an erroneous news story may have cost her the chance to make millions while serving as First Lady.

The revelation comes from, of all places, Melania's own $150 million lawsuit against the Daily Mail for publishing an article in August 2016 (later retracted) that claimed her modeling career was simply cover for being an escort.

Because the Daily Mail published the claim, according to the complaint, Melania and her brand "lost significant value, and major business opportunities that were otherwise available to her have been lost and/or substantially impacted."

It also seems to imply that Melania intended to launch a line of products while serving as First Lady, using her position ("a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity ... a multi-year term during which Plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world") as leverage, but now can't because her reputation has been damaged by the story.

Here's the complaint:

Charles Harder, Melania's attorney, denied the implication via a statement: "The First Lady has no intention of using her position for profit and will not do so. It is not a possibility. Any statements to the contrary are being misinterpreted."

He's not yet replied to a follow-up request to clarify what, then, is meant by, "a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity ... a multi-year term during which Plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world."

Among the items that Melania could have launched, but won't, presumably, anymore thanks to the article, are "apparel accessories, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, hair care, skin care and fragrance."

Not mentioned: edible diamonds.

This is Melania's second lawsuit in the U.S. against the Daily Mail. An earlier version filed in Maryland was dismissed on jurisdictional grounds. She's filed an additional lawsuit against the paper in London.

Another lawsuit, against a Maryland blogger who had reported the story, was settled out of court.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.