Attorneys representing President Donald Trump sent a cease and desist letter Wednesday night to Steve Bannon demanding he stop making false and defamatory remarks against the president and his family.
The letter was sent after remarks made by Bannon to author Michael Wolff were made public in excerpts from the book “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.”
Trump lawyer Charles Harder from the law firm of Harder Mirell & Abrams said in a statement that “legal notice was issued today to Stephen K. Bannon, that his actions of communicating with author Michael Wolff regarding an upcoming book give rise to numerous legal claims including defamation by libel and slander, and breach of his written confidentiality and non-disparagement agreement with our clients. Legal action is imminent.”
The letter that was sent to Bannon accused the former Trump advisor of breach of contract and defamation.
“You [Bannon] have breached the Agreement by, among other things, communicating with author Michael Wolff about Mr. Trump, his family members, and the Company, disclosing Confidential Information to Mr. Wolff, and making disparaging statements and in some cases outright defamatory statements to Mr. Wolff about Mr. Trump, his family members, and the Company, knowing that they would be included in Mr. Wolff’s book and publicity surrounding the marketing and sale of his book,” Harder wrote in the letter.
Trump reportedly required all campaign staff to sign a non-disclosure agreement that included a clause forbidding disparaging comments against Mr. Trump, his family or the campaign. Bannon’s ill-thought comments to Wolff and their subsequent publication would violate such an agreement.
As legal remedies for Bannon’s actions, the letter says that whoever is harmed by the breach “will be entitled to all remedies available at law and equity, including but not limited to monetary damages.”
Trump’s legal team sent the letter and made the statement just hours after the president unloaded on Bannon for his remarks in Wolff’s book.
