A Florida federal judge tossed out a $15 billion defamation lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against The New York Times in a stunning decision on Friday.
U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday made the bizarre declaration that Trump's lawsuit was overly long and full of “tedious and burdensome” language, which seems like an odd judgment considering the inherently long and tedious nature of litigation.
Judge Merryday gave Trump's legal team 28 days to file an amended complaint that should not exceed 40 pages. The option to amend the complaint seems to further reinforce suspicions that this is an attempt to undermine justice and delay Trump's case.
Judge Merryday didn't rule on the merits of Trump's defamation case, but instead is kicking the can down the road.
In his decision, Judge Merryday wrote, "A complaint is not a megaphone for public relations or a podium for a passionate oration at a political rally. This action will begin, will continue, and will end in accord with the rules of procedure and in a professional and dignified manner.”
Defamation Case Lives On
A spokesman for Trump's legal team, Aaron Harison, confirmed that the lawsuit would continue “in accordance with the judge’s direction on logistics."
The lawsuit is pointed at four New York Times journalists and cited a book and three articles published within a two-month period prior to the 2024 election that Trump's team argue defamed Trump and attempted to influence the outcome of the election.
A book written by Times reporters Russ Buettner and Susanne Craig focused on Trump’s finances and his pre-presidency role in “The Apprentice," which was partly but far from entirely responsible for Trump's nationally recognizable profile.
Trump's lawsuit posits that Buettner and Craig “maliciously peddled the fact-free narrative” that "The Apprentice" was what made Trump a national celebrity. The article also included defamatory claims about Trump’s early business dealings and his father, Fred.
This lawsuit is one of many lawsuits filed against major media organizations, including ABC News, CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” and the Wall Street Journal.
Trump has already scored out of court settlements but the New York Times has chosen to go to court and is banking on a friendly anti-Trump judge to protect them from a serious financial hit.
Winning a defamation case is extremely difficult but Trump has already secured major wins in his settlements with ABC and CBS. Should he succeed against the New York Times, it will usher in an era where individuals have more power to hold the media accountable.
The media claims that these defamation lawsuits are an attack on the 1st Amendment but the media has held the power to ruin lives and dominate political discourse for decades.
The media's monopoly on public discourse has been to the detriment of the nation and the fundamental Constitutional freedoms of the average American. America's journalist class has gotten away with lying for years, and it's time for consequences.
