A New York judge has dismissed Donald Trump’s lawsuit against The New York Times and ordered the former president to pay all attorneys’ fees, legal fees and related costs.
Trump sued the newspaper, three reporters and niece Mary Trump in 2021, alleging they engaged in a “cunning conspiracy” to obtain personal records of Pulitzer Prize-winning articles about his tax problems.
Courts have rejected Trump’s claims against newspapers and journalists, but claims against the former president’s niece have yet to be decided.
The New York Times is pleased with the judge’s decision today. “It sets an important precedent that confirms that the press is protected when it engages in routine news coverage to obtain information of critical importance to the public.”
In a ruling filed Wednesday afternoon, New York State Supreme Court Justice Robert R. Reed wrote that the twice-impeached former president’s case against the accuser “failed on constitutional grounds.” The First Amendment protects the activities.”
Reid further ruled that Trump failed to prove unlawful interference when Times reporter Susan Craig provided a phone to his niece to communicate on the record. The judge also said the former president failed to prove wrongful gain or negligent oversight by the Times or reporters Craig, David Barstow and Russell Buettner.
In the original lawsuit, Trump alleged that the New York Times “took records from the attorney’s office and turned them over to the newspaper” with his niece despite a confidentiality agreement he signed in 2001 during a family dispute. He also argued that Craig, Barstow and Buettner were “motivated, at least in part, by their genuine malice” in reporting details of the tax returns, which they refused to reveal.
Mary Trump told The Daily Beast that her uncle first filed the lawsuit in September 2021. Disappointment. The wall closes and he is throwing anything to stick it on the wall. As usual with The Donald, he will try to change the subject.”