Judge Dismisses Trump’s Lawsuit Against WSJ Over Report On Epstein Birthday Letter
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.
“It is not a termination, it is a suggested re-filing, and we will be, as per the Order, re-filing an updated lawsuit on or before April 27th,” the president said on Truth Social.
Dow Jones, the outlet’s owner, did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
The lawsuit specifically targeted the Journal for publishing a racy birthday message it said Trump sent in 2003 to Epstein, the late convicted sex abuser whose ties to the president and other powerful figures have been under public scrutiny and investigation by lawmakers across the political spectrum.
The letter, later released by Democrats in September, is typewritten within what looks like a hand-drawn silhouette of a naked woman. Trump’s signature is placed below the woman’s waist, in a way the Journal said was “mimicking pubic hair.”
The text is formatted to look like a back-and-forth between men named “Donald” and “Jeffrey.”
“We have certain things in common, Jeffrey,” Donald writes, to which Jeffrey says, “Yes, we do, come to think of it.”
Donald then says, “Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?” Jeffrey responds, “As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you.”
“A pal is a wonderful thing,” Donald closes. “Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump originally denied the letter’s existence but amended his claim to deny being the one to have written it after House lawmakers obtained a copy of the message from Epstein’s estate.
The message was one of many in a birthday book compiled by Epstein’s now-jailed accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, in honor of the disgraced financier’s 50th birthday that year.
