President Trump’s lawyers have sent a cease-and-desist letter to journalist Michael Wolff and book publisher Henry Holt, demanding that they halt the Jan. 9 publication of Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, which has already made waves following the release of two excerpts in major publications. Trump is also asking for an apology for defamatory statements made in the excerpts. “We are investigating numerous false and/or baseless statements that you have made about Mr. Trump,” Trump’s lawyer, Charles Harder, reportedly wrote to Wolff. The apparently lengthy letter accuses Wolff of “actual malice” and declares that Trump’s team is looking into several legal avenues, including possible defamation of Trump and his family and invasion of privacy. Sections of the book reveal former top strategist Steve Bannon criticizing Trump campaign officials and family members, and it has prompted a political firestorm—and personal attacks by Trump himself aimed at Bannon. Trump has also sent a cease-and-desist to Bannon through his legal team.
