British newspaper retracts Melania Trump escort agency story

In this June 7, 2016 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves at supporters as he leaves the stage with his wife Melania after a news conference at the Trump National Golf Club Westchester in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. (Mary Altaffer)

LONDON -- The Daily Mail newspaper has retracted a story about Melania Trump after her lawyers filed a lawsuit in the United States accusing the newspaper and a Maryland blogger of publishing false statements about her alleged involvement with an escort agency.

The retraction published Friday said the newspaper and its popular website "did not intend to state or suggest that these allegations" about the wife of the Republican presidential nominee were true.

"The point of the article was that these allegations could impact the U.S. presidential election even if they are untrue," the retraction said.

It ended by stating that the editors "regret any such misinterpretations" about the story published on Aug. 20.

Trump filed suit against the Daily Mail Online and a Maryland website Thursday in a Maryland state court.