Judge dismisses Trump lawsuit against WSJ over Epstein birthday book claims
Case dismissed with prejudice
Judge Darrin Gayles dismissed Trump’s refiled lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, which sought $10bn in damages. The judge had previously dismissed an earlier version of the defamation case, which sought $20bn.
This time, the case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning Trump cannot file it again. Trump had accused the newspaper of slander and violating libel laws by publishing its report.
Judge cites legal standard
Gayles said Trump’s legal team had not proved that the defendants made defamatory statements with “actual malice,” which the law requires. He wrote that Trump’s argument did not meet that standard and conflicted with the First Amendment.
Trump alleged that the letter published by the Journal was fake and that the defendants devised the story to defame him. He has denied writing or signing it.
What the report described
The Journal reported that a letter bearing Trump’s name contained typewritten lines framed by the outline of a naked woman, apparently drawn by hand with a heavy marker. The article said the letter had Trump’s signature at the bottom.
The article also described suggestive language and a drawing of a woman’s body outline. A caption identified Trump and Epstein posing together at Mar-a-Lago in 1997.
Key points
- Gayles dismissed Trump’s $10bn lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal.
- The case was dismissed with prejudice and cannot be filed again.
- The judge said Trump’s team had not established actual malice.
- Trump has denied writing or signing the letter described by the Journal.