A New York judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked the release of a tell-all book by President Trump’s niece until at least July 10, saying it violated a 20-year confidentiality agreement.
The restraining order was issued against Mary Trump and her publisher, Simon & Schuster. Justice Hal Greenwald in Poughkeepsie, New York, also ordered Ms. Trump to explain why he shouldn’t grant a permanent injunction.
Mr. Trump’s brother, Robert S. Trump, filed the lawsuit, saying the book violates an agreement Mary Trump reached with her two uncles and aunt Maryanne Trump in 2001.
Under the agreement, Mary Trump agreed not to publish a book about Donald, Robert or Maryanne Trump without permission from each of them. The pact was part of a settlement deal as part of a dispute over the will of her grandfather, Fred C. Trump Sr.
Mary Trump is the daughter of Fred C. Trump Jr., who died in 1981.
The order prohibits Mary Trump and the publisher from distributing any version of the book or release any portion of it “in any medium containing descriptions or accounts” of her relationships with the president and his family.
The book, “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man,” is set to be released July 28. It will include psychological observations about the author’s “toxic” family, according to the lawsuit.
A hearing on the matter is set for July 10.
Theodore J. Boutrous Jr., an attorney for Mary Trump, slammed the court’s decision and vowed an immediate appeal.
“The trial court’s temporary restraining order is only temporary, but it still is a prior restraint on core political speech that flatly violates the First Amendment,” he said in a statement. “This book, which addresses matters of great public concern and importance about a sitting president in an election year, should not be suppressed even for one day.”
Simon & Schuster said in a statement it was “disappointed” with the ruling and also pledged an appeal.
Charles Hader, who is representing Robert Trump, said his client was “very pleased.” He called Mary Trump’s actions “truly reprehensible.”
“We look forward to vigorously litigating this case, and will seek the maximum remedies available by law for the enormous damages caused by Mary Trump’s breach of contract and Simon & Schuster’s intentional interference with that contract,” he said in a statement. “Short of corrective action to immediately cease their egregious conduct, we will pursue this case to the very end.”
Mary Trump’s book comes on the heels of a tell-all memoir by former national security adviser John R. Bolton. Portions of Mr. Bolton’s book were released to the press even after the Justice Department filed a restraining order.
Ultimately, a federal judge denied the administration’s bid to block the book’s release.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.