Cipriani Files $250 Million U.S. Suit While €5M Defamation Case Heads to Mediation in Rome

Overview

• This week Giuseppe Cipriani and Nicole Minetti filed parallel defamation actions: a $250 million complaint in a New York federal court and a €5 million suit in Italy that is moving toward mandatory mediation in Rome.
• The U.S. filing accuses Il Fatto Quotidiano and Rai/Report of publishing false, sensational allegations about parties, drug use, adoption irregularities and ties to Jeffrey Epstein that harmed Cipriani’s reputation and business interests.
• Plaintiffs say the reporting caused concrete economic loss, including a delayed $50 million financing, and point to sworn statements from ranch staff as evidence for their claims.
• A central witness, masseuse Graciela Torres, signed a sworn retraction in late May saying she could not confirm key allegations, a development the plaintiffs cite in both suits.
• Il Fatto and editor Marco Travaglio reject calls to retract, say reporters gathered months of messages, photos and interviews to corroborate the story, and plan to vigorously defend their reporting as the cases proceed.