A New York judge ruled Friday that former President Donald Trump must pay the New York Times nearly $400,000 in legal fees over a lawsuit against the paper that the same judge dismissed last year. .
New York State Supreme Court Justice Robert Reed said: order On Friday, the former president announced that he must pay the Times and three of its reporters $392,638.69 in legal fees related to his case. bring up against them and his niece Mary Trump in 2021.
Mr. Reed ordered that the Times and reporters Suzanne Craig and Russ Buettner receive $229,921 and reporter David Barstow $162,717.69.
Mr. Trump's lawsuit, which Mr. Reade dismissed last May, accuses him of being involved in a conspiracy to obtain confidential tax records that a Times reporter and his niece used to file their 2018 taxes. article Regarding the former president's “questionable tax system.”
In the lawsuit, President Trump blamed reporters for allegedly encouraging him to give his niece confidential tax documents. The former president alleged that her niece violated confidentiality provisions dating back to an earlier settlement between Trump and herself when she provided documents.
In his decision throwing out the case, Reed wrote that the court recognized the right of reporters to engage in “reporting” activities without “fear.”
“Courts have long recognized that reporters have the right to engage in lawful and ordinary reporting activities without fear of tort liability, because these activities are protected by the First Amendment. at the very heart of the operation,” Reed said in his May ruling.
The Times praised Friday's order.
In a statement to The Hill, a Times spokesperson said, “Today's decision is based on the state's newly amended anti-slap law, which is intended to limit speech and deter lawsuits.” “This shows that it can be a powerful force for protecting the freedom of people.” “The court has sent a message to those who seek to abuse the judicial system to silence journalists.”
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