(Adnkronos) – Federal Judge Darrin Gayles has dismissed the $10 billion defamation lawsuit that American President Donald Trump had filed against the Wall Street Journal and its owner Rupert Murdoch over an article about an obscene birthday letter addressed to Jeffrey Epstein. According to Gayles, a Florida judge, Trump failed to plausibly demonstrate that the newspaper acted with “malice” and with defamatory intent in publishing the news. Trump has until April 27 to file an amended complaint.
Gayles explained that Trump’s complaint was based on “boilerplate” claims and on the fact that the Wall Street Journal “knew or should have known” that the story was false. The judge also noted that the article included Trump’s denial and efforts made to get comments from the White House, the Department of Justice, and the FBI.
“President Trump will respect Judge Gayles’ ruling and guidance to refile this important lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and all other defendants,” a spokesman for Trump’s legal team told CNN. “The president will continue to pursue those who spread false news to deceive the American people,” he added.
