Judge Dismisses Trump Defamation Suit Against Wall Street Journal
Federal Judge Darrin Gayles dismissed Donald Trump's defamation lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal with prejudice for failing to prove actual malice.
A federal judge in Florida dismissed an amended defamation lawsuit filed by Donald Trump against Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal with prejudice on Saturday. The legal action concerned a report about a 2003 birthday letter allegedly sent by Trump to Jeffrey Epstein, which the president claimed was a fabrication.
Judge Darrin Gayles ruled that Trump failed to plausibly allege that the defendants acted with actual malice, a necessary legal standard for public figures pursuing defamation damages. This decision follows an earlier dismissal of the case in April, which had originally sought between $10 billion and $20 billion in damages.
Because the court dismissed the amended complaint with prejudice, Trump is barred from refiling the suit in the district court, although he retains the option to seek appellate review. A spokesman for Trump's legal team stated the president will continue to hold those who mislead the public with "Fake News and smears accountable for their actions."
