A federal judge has thrown out President Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit targeting The Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch. The suit stemmed from a report detailing a "bawdy" birthday letter President Trump allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003.
US District Judge Darrin Gayles, sitting in Miami, ruled that Trump's legal team failed to plausibly allege that the Journal published the story with "actual malice." This legal standard requires public figures to prove that a statement was made with knowledge of its falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth. Judge Gayles found that the complaint did not meet this threshold, stating the president "came nowhere close" to demonstrating actual malice.
However, the dismissal is not final. Judge Gayles has granted President Trump the opportunity to file an amended complaint, allowing his legal team another chance to meet the stringent requirements for a defamation case involving a public figure.
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The lawsuit's dismissal marks a significant legal setback for President Trump, who has sought to use the courts to challenge reporting he deems critical. The article in question, published by The Wall Street Journal, referenced a birthday book obtained from Epstein's estate, which reportedly contained the letter with a drawing and President Trump's signature. The Journal and its parent companies had previously argued the article was true, citing the production of the book containing the letter in response to a congressional subpoena.
The White House has not immediately responded to requests for comment on the ruling.
