Judge dismisses Trump defamation lawsuit against Murdoch, WSJ about Epstein letter

2 hours ago 2

Published Mon, Apr 13 20269:27 AM EDTUpdated 3 Min Ago

Key Points

A Florida federal court judge tossed out a defamation lawsuit by President Donald Trump against media baron Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal.
Trump claimed he was defamed in a Journal article that said he sent a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein, this then-friend.
Trump will be allowed to file an amended lawsuit in the case, Judge Darrin Gayles said in his ruling in U.S. District Court in Miami.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch.

Julia Demaree Nikhinson | Jonathan Ernst | Reuters

A federal judge in Florida on Monday dismissed President Donald Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against media baron Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal, which had alleged the newspaper defamed Trump in a story saying the president had sent a birthday letter to notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

But Trump will be given the chance to file a new amended lawsuit in the case, Judge Darrin Gayles said in his ruling in U.S. District Court in Miami.

Gayles said he had to dismiss the civil complaint because Trump had "not plausibly alleged that the Defendants published the Article with actual malice."

The judge cited legal precedent which said a plaintiff "should have the opportunity to amend his complaint" if a lawsuit was tossed out for failing to plead facts in that complaint "giving rise to an inference of actual malice."