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A federal judge in Florida has dismissed President Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against him The Wall Street Journal over its report on an obscene drawing he allegedly contributed as part of a gift to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, stating that there was no evidence of malice in the case.
In an order dismissing the lawsuit against reporters of the explosive news story, the newspaper, its parent company, News Corp, and even Rupert Murdoch, U.S. District Judge Darren B. Giles wrote that Trump’s legal team failed to argue that the article was published by those named in the complaint with malicious intent.
But Judge Giles did not rule on the veracity of what was stated Magazine The material or whether the facts contained therein are true and therefore not defamatory of the President; Lawyers for the newspaper and Murdoch sought to have such a decision taken and the case dismissed entirely. Giles dismissed the case without prejudice, meaning Trump may amend and refile the complaint.
“Whether President Trump was the author of the letter or a friend of Epstein’s are factual questions that cannot be determined at this stage of the litigation,” Giles wrote.
the magazineA July 27 article titled “Jeffrey Epstein’s Friends Sent Him Lewd Messages for His 50th Birthday” described a sexually suggestive letter that the newspaper said was signed by Trump and included in a 2003 album. The article noted that the letter included a drawing of a nude woman, with Trump’s signature written below the waist of the photo, along with a message that read: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
After the article was published in late July, Congress subpoenaed the file from a collection of documents related to the Epstein investigation. Trump also publicly threatened to file a lawsuit after denying his involvement in creating the obscene cartoon when interviewed by reporters for the story.
“I have never written a picture in my life,” he said. “I don’t paint pictures of women.” “It’s not my language. It’s not my words.” Trump confirmed: “I will sue The Wall Street Journal Just like I sued everyone else.
The judge noted in his ruling that: magazine I reached out to Trump for comment before publishing the article.
The dropping of the case is the latest of several developments that have hampered Trump’s attempts to distance himself from Epstein, who died in a New York prison cell while awaiting trial on charges of running a sex trafficking ring. His death, which authorities said was by hanging, has been the subject of multiple conspiracy theories, many of which involve a slew of world leaders with whom he spent time over several decades.
