U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles dismissed President Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and its owners, including Rupert Murdoch. The case centered on a July 2024 article claiming that Trump's name appeared in Jeffrey Epstein's birthday book with a suggestive letter.
Key Takeaways
U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles dismissed President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and its owners, including Rupert Murdoch. The case centered on a July 2024 article claiming that Trump's name appeared in Jeffrey Epstein's birthday book with a suggestive letter.
- Federal judge dismisses Trump's defamation suit for failing to show 'actual malice'
- Case centers on WSJ article about Trump’s alleged letter to Jeffrey Epstein
- Judge allows Trump until April 27 to file an amended lawsuit
- Critics warn lawsuits could chill free speech and suppress critical coverage
The judge ruled that Trump failed to demonstrate 'actual malice' - the legal standard requiring public figures to prove statements were made with knowledge of their falsity or reckless disregard for truth. As reported by CBS News, Judge Gayles stated Trump's complaint came 'nowhere close' to meeting this burden.
The dismissal was without prejudice, allowing Trump until April 27 to file an amended lawsuit. According to Fox News and the BBC, Trump’s legal team indicated he would refile the case, calling it a 'powerhouse' lawsuit against those trafficking in 'Fake News'. The Wall Street Journal reported that its article included a description of a letter with Trump's signature and a drawing of a woman's body.
The judge noted that reporters from the Wall Street Journal reached out to Trump for comment beforehand and printed his denial. That allowed readers to decide for themselves what to conclude, cutting against Trump’s assertion that the newspaper acted with actual malice, as reported by Al Jazeera and TimesLIVE.
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