A federal judge has dismissed Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, Rupert Murdoch and the journalists and publishers who reported on an alleged birthday letter to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Corinne Ramey of The Journal reports, “U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles, based in Miami, Fla., ruled Trump hadn’t made a valid legal claim that he was defamed by an article about a letter to financier Jeffrey Epstein bearing Trump’s name.
“‘Because President Trump has not plausibly alleged that defendants published the article with actual malice, both Counts must be dismissed,’ wrote Gayles, who was appointed by President Barack Obama. The judge said Trump could file a new amended lawsuit if he wishes, and gave him until April 27 to do so.
“Representatives for Trump and The Wall Street Journal’s publisher didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.”
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