Although a Florida federal judge threw out President Donald Trump's defamation lawsuit against the New York Times and book publisher Penguin, Trump responded to the action by saying, "I'm winning" against mainstream media outlets.
Judge Steven Merryday of Tampa, who was appointed by George H. W. Bush, tossed Trump's suit on Friday, calling it “decidedly improper and impermissible" because the filing spent most of its 85 pages talking about Trump's foes and accomplishments and also contained "superfluous allegations."
“As every lawyer knows (or is presumed to know), a complaint is not a public forum for vituperation and invective — not a protected platform to rage against an adversary,” Merryday wrote.
“A complaint is not a megaphone for public relations or a podium for a passionate oration at a political rally or the functional equivalent of the Hyde Park Speakers’ Corner,” he added, referring to a famed spot for free speech in London.
Trump responded to a question from ABC's Jonathan Karl about the lawsuit's dismissal by saying, “I’m winning, I’m winning the cases."
He then addressed Karl, saying, “You’re guilty, Jon, you’re guilty. ABC is a terrible network, a very unfair network, and you should be ashamed of yourself. NBC is equally bad. I don’t know who’s worse.”
Merryday did say that Trump could file an amended lawsuit within 28 days that was more concisely focused on the complaints against the Times, four of its reporters, and Penguin.
Trump had only filed the lawsuit on Monday. The amended suit would be limited to 40 pages, Merryday said.
Trump has been in the process of suing a number of media outlets for defamation. He has already gotten settlements from two of the biggest--hence the meaning of his comment about "winning."
In December, ABC settled with him for $15 million over comments George Stephanapolous made about him being a rapist after a civil judgement against him that found him liable of sexual abuse, but not rape.
In July, CBS settled with him for 16 million over the selective editing of comments by then-Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris the previous October, which he argued could have impacted the election.
The money will go to his presidential library, since he is a billionaire and seemingly doesn't need it.
There's every possibility that he will win against the Times as well, once his lawyers get to the point.
The Times would only say through a spokesperson, “We welcome the judge’s quick ruling, which recognized that the complaint was a political document rather than a serious legal filing.”
