Trump Resubmits $10 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against The Wall Street Journal

Former President Donald Trump has refiled a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. This renewed suit comes after a previous complaint was dismissed by Judge Darrin P. Gayles, who found that Trump had not sufficiently demonstrated that the publication acted with 'actual malice,' a requirement for defamation claims involving public figures.

The lawsuit focuses on a Journal article published on July 17, which discussed a birthday message allegedly from Trump in a 2003 album for Jeffrey Epstein. The letter reportedly contained a greeting wishing Epstein a happy birthday and was accompanied by a drawing. In his amended complaint, Trump contends that the Journal's reporters acted with malice by failing to clarify how the letter was obtained and the verification process that followed.

Trump's legal team has also emphasized that the article should have included comments from Ghislaine Maxwell, who compiled the birthday book. Although the article noted her non-response to an interview request, Maxwell later stated to the Department of Justice that she had no memory of a letter from Trump. Additionally, Trump claims he informed Rupert Murdoch, Chairman of News Corp (the parent company of The Journal), of his denial prior to publication. Murdoch allegedly assured Trump he would address the situation.

A spokesperson for Dow Jones, the publisher of The Journal, reaffirmed their confidence in the accuracy of their reporting and indicated they would vigorously defend against the lawsuit.