(NewsNation) — The publisher of a new book about Prince Andrew has removed an allegation that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were introduced by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Author Andrew Lownie released “Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York” on Aug. 14, and approximately 60,000 copies of the book include the claim, according to People magazine.
Future editions of the book won’t include the purported connection, and the audiobook and e-book versions have already been edited, People magazine reports.
Melania Trump threatens to sue Hunter Biden
The passage’s removal comes after Melania Trump threatened to sue Hunter Biden for $1 billion for repeating a claim that Epstein introduced her to the president.
In a letter to Biden dated Aug. 6, a lawyer for the first lady demanded he “immediately retract the false, defamatory, disparaging and inflammatory statements made about Mrs. Trump,” as well as “immediately issue an apology.”
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive to view opening night of “Les Miserables,” at the Kennedy Center, on June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) 
Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, flanked by Kevin Morris, left, and Abbe Lowell, right, attends a House Oversight Committee meeting on Jan. 10, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) 
Britain’s Prince Andrew is seen in this April 5, 2015, photo in London. (Neil Hall/PA via AP) 
This photo provided by the New York State Sex Offender Registry shows Jeffrey Epstein, March 28, 2017. (AP)
The letter alleged Biden’s commentary caused Melania Trump to suffer “overwhelming financial and reputational harm” and directed him “not to destroy, conceal or alter in any way” documents or files related to his claims. If Biden did not comply with these demands by Aug. 7, the letter stated, the first lady would seek $1 billion in damages.
NewsNation’s Paul Froelich reported that President Donald Trump told the New York Post that it was modeling agent Paolo Zampolli who introduced the couple.
Hunter Biden won’t retract Epstein-Trump claim
In an interview on “Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan,” Biden claimed otherwise, citing biographer Michael Woff, who has written multiple books about the president.
Biden responded to Melania Trump’s demands by saying he would not apologize or retract his comments.
“F— that. That’s not going to happen,” Biden said.
Prince Andrew’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein
Andrew’s controversial relationship with Epstein, a convicted sex offender, has made headlines in recent years.
In an interview with the BBC in 2019, Andrew was questioned as to why he maintained a friendship with the financier following Epstein’s 2009 release from prison after pleading guilty to charges of soliciting a prostitute and of solicitation of prostitution with a minor under the age of 18.
Andrew had reportedly ceased contact with Epstein in 2006 after news that Epstein was being investigated but established contact with him in 2010, when he was seen at Epstein’s New York City mansion, purportedly in order to end the friendship, according to The Guardian.
“I took the judgment call that because this was serious, and I felt that doing it over the telephone was the chicken’s way of doing it, I had to go and see him and talk to him,” he told the BBC.
In January, emails published in court documents from the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority showed Andrew was in contact after he said he ended the relationship, according to the BBC.
In a February 2011 email, Andrew reportedly wrote to Epstein, “Keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!!!!”
NewsNation’s Meg Hilling contributed to this report.