A federal judge has dismissed President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch over a report about Trump’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
US District Judge Darrin P. Gayles ruled on Monday (April 13) that Trump failed to adequately prove the article was published with “intent to be malicious,” but gave him an opportunity to file an amended complaint.
The court says the key claims require further factual scrutiny
In his order, Judge Gayles noted that the central issues of the case could not be resolved at this stage of the litigation.
“Whether the letter was authored by President Trump or a friend of Epstein’s are questions of fact that cannot be determined at this stage of the litigation,” the judge wrote.
Lawyers for the newspaper urged the court to dismiss the case entirely, arguing that the reports were accurate and therefore not defamatory.
Trump responds and promises to refile the case
Reacting on social media hours after the verdict, Trump insisted the case was not over.
“This is not a termination,” he wrote, instead describing it as a “proposed re-filing” of his “powerful case.”
Trump added that he intends to file the lawsuit again “on or before April 27.”
The Epstein-related article sparked a legal battle
The lawsuit stems from a Wall Street Journal article that examined Trump’s past association with Jeffrey Epstein and referenced a sexually suggestive letter allegedly signed by Trump.
The newspaper said the letter was part of a 2003 birthday album compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday.
The letter was later released by Congress after it subpoenaed records from Epstein’s estate.
Trump denied authorship of the letter, calling the reports “false, malicious and defamatory.”
The judge rejects the Journal’s early dismissal arguments
Lawyers for The Wall Street Journal and Murdoch asked the court to rule that the statements in the article were true and therefore not defamatory.
However, the judge declined to make such a decision at this stage, saying the matters required further investigation.
The WSJ responds
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment after the verdict.
A spokesman for Dow Jones, which publishes The Wall Street Journal, said it stood by its reports.
“We stand by the reliability, rigor and accuracy of The Wall Street Journal’s reporting,” a spokesperson said.
Legal and political background
The ruling represents another setback in Trump’s broader legal effort involving media coverage of his ties to Epstein, an issue that continues to draw political and public scrutiny.
The case now moves to the next stage, where Trump may try to refile a revised complaint before the court deadline expires.
