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Judge dismisses Trump's $10bn lawsuit over Epstein story
A federal judge in Florida has dismissed former President Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and its parent company, News Corp., ruling that Trump failed to demonstrate the newspaper acted with actual malice.
Background of the lawsuit
Trump filed the lawsuit last summer after the Journal published a report on July 17 linking him to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The article stated that Trump's name appeared in a "birthday book" given to Epstein in 2003, along with a drawing of a woman's body.
Trump denied writing the message, calling it "a fake thing," and sought at least $10 billion in damages, alleging defamation.
Judge's ruling and legal standard
U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles dismissed the case without prejudice, meaning Trump can refile an amended complaint. The judge stated that Trump "came nowhere close" to proving the Journal acted with actual malice-a requirement for defamation claims involving public figures in the U.S.
The legal standard for actual malice requires plaintiffs to show that a statement was false and that the publisher either knew it was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
"Trump has not plausibly alleged that the Defendants published the Article with actual malice,"
Judge Darrin Gayles
Trump's response and next steps
Trump's legal team announced plans to refile the lawsuit, with his attorney telling the BBC the president will "continue to hold accountable those who traffic in Fake News to mislead the American People." Trump has until April 27 to submit an amended complaint.
Context of the Journal's reporting
The Wall Street Journal, owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., published exclusive reporting last summer connecting Trump and Epstein through the birthday book. While the newspaper did not release an image of the note, its description matched a later image published by Democratic lawmakers on social media.
The controversy arose as lawmakers prepared to release additional documents related to Epstein.
