Judge dismisses Trump’s US$10 billion Wall Street Journal lawsuit over Epstein report

A federal judge in Florida dismissed Donald Trump's US$10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch on Monday. The lawsuit stemmed from an article published by the newspaper that highlighted Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and described a sexually suggestive letter purportedly bearing Trump's signature. Judge Darrin P. Gayles ruled that Trump failed to demonstrate the article was published with malicious intent. While the judge dismissed the suit, he granted Trump the opportunity to file an amended complaint. Trump initially filed the lawsuit in July after the article renewed scrutiny of his connection to Epstein.

A federal judge dismissed Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch on Monday. The lawsuit stemmed from a WSJ article that highlighted Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein, including a sexually suggestive letter purportedly bearing Trump's signature. Trump claimed the story was false, malicious, and defamatory, denying he wrote the letter. The judge, Darrin P. Gayles in Florida, ruled that Trump failed to prove the article was published with malicious intent. However, Trump has the opportunity to file an amended complaint. The judge stated that the questions of whether Trump wrote the letter or was Epstein's friend could not be determined at this stage of the litigation.

A US federal judge in Miami dismissed Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch. The lawsuit stemmed from a WSJ article about Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein, specifically a letter allegedly signed by Trump for Epstein's 50th birthday. Judge Darrin Gayles ruled that Trump failed to meet the "actual malice" standard required for public figures in defamation cases, as the WSJ had contacted Trump for comment and included his denial in the article. Trump claimed the birthday greeting was fake and sought damages for reputational harm. The judge has given Trump until April 27 to file an amended version of the lawsuit.