Trump Plans to Refile Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal
President Donald Trump announced he intends to submit a “strong lawsuit” against the Wall Street Journal following the dismissal of his initial case on Monday. His grievance stems from a report claiming he sent Jeffrey Epstein a “vulgar” birthday card for Epstein’s 50th birthday back in 2003.
Trump adamantly denied any involvement in writing the card and has filed for $10 billion in damages over the article. Federal Judge Darrin Gales dismissed the original case, stating that Trump did not convincingly establish that the defendants acted with “actual malice.” However, the judge permitted Trump to refile the case, giving him until the end of the month to do so.
Judge Gales also mentioned that the Wall Street Journal sought comments from Trump, officials from the Justice Department, and the FBI before the article was published. They even included a statement from Trump in their coverage.
Trump reiterated his commitment to refile the lawsuit, stating, “Our strong case against The Wall Street Journal and other defendants has been reinstated by a judge. This is not a dismissal but an offer to refile, and we plan to comply with the order and refile the latest lawsuit by April 27.” He shared this update on his social media platform.
A representative from Dow Jones & Co., the publisher of the Journal, expressed satisfaction with the judge’s decision regarding the case’s dismissal, affirming the commitment to the “credibility, rigor, and accuracy” of the Journal’s reporting.
Additionally, a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team indicated that they would adhere to Judge Gales’ ruling and intentions to pursue the lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and other involved parties. They emphasized Trump’s resolve to hold accountable those disseminating false information to mislead the public.
If Trump did indeed send the card, it would have occurred prior to Epstein facing formal investigations for sexual assault of a minor in 2006 and later being convicted in 2008.
