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US judge dismisses Trump's second lawsuit against Wall Street Journal

Published

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Judge Darrin P. Gayles ruled on Saturday that Donald Trump again failed to show actual malice in his suit over reporting on his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The suit sought at least $10 billion in damages.

The US District Court for the Southern District of Florida dismissed the case with prejudice. The ruling ends Trump's pursuit of the refiled defamation suit. Gayles wrote that the paper's investigation was thoughtful and detailed.

Trump's lawyers argued that the paper should have dropped the story after he denied involvement with Epstein. The judge rejected the case as a whole. He wrote: "As with his first attempt, he has failed,"

Key facts

Who
Donald Trump (United States President, plaintiff in the lawsuit against the Wall Street…); Darrin P. Gayles (Judge, US District Court for the Southern District of Florida); Wall Street Journal (news outlet sued by Trump over Epstein reporting); Jeffrey Epstein (sex offender whose ties to Trump the paper reported on)
What
The US District Court for the Southern District of Florida ruled on Saturday that Trump again failed to show actual malice, ending his pursuit of the defamation suit, which sought at least $10 billion in damages. The judge wrote that the paper's investigation was thoughtful and detailed.
When
31 October 2026
Where
United States, Southern District of Florida, Florida
Status
Reported

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