A federal judge has dismissed President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal over its reporting on a lewd birthday letter the president allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003.
The lawsuit accused the Journal, its reporters and publisher of “knowingly and recklessly” publishing “numerous false, defamatory and disparaging statements” against Trump in the July report, resulting in “overwhelming financial and reputational harm.”
But on Monday, U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles ruled, essentially, that the outlet’s journalists did their due diligence when reporting on the letter — including reaching out to several sources within the administration and publishing Trump’s denial of having written it.
“Because President Trump has not plausibly alleged that defendants published the article with actual malice, both Counts must be dismissed,” the Miami judge stated. The ruling did not make any conclusions about the letter itself.
Trump can file an amended complaint within two weeks, according to Gayles.
