NY Times' biz journalist must disclose sources in Trump case

Timothy O’Brien, the New York Times business journalist who wrote a book last year about real estate developer Donald Trump, must reveal his sources who told him that Trump was just a millionaire, not a billionaire, according to a judge’s ruling, the Philadephia Inquirer reported.

O’Brien became the Sunday business editor for the Times in May.

Reporter Jan Hefler wrote, “State Superior Court Judge Irvin J. Snyder ruled in Camden that O’Brien must disclose the three confidential sources who provided him with financial information about Trump’s net worth. In TrumpNation: The Art of Being the Donald, O’Brien wrote that Trump was ‘not remotely close to being a billionaire’ and was worth between $150 million and $250 million.

“Trump sued for $5 billion, saying he had lost that much in business deals and a damaged reputation.

“Trump has refused to divulge his net worth. Forbes magazine has valued his interests at $2.7 billion.

“‘It was a very good day for Donald Trump,’ said his lawyer, William M. Tambussi, even though Trump’s casino bid in Philadelphia was rejected.

“Tambussi said he would add O’Brien’s sources to the lawsuit once he learned their names.”

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