After his failed lawsuit against The New York Times and three reporters Susanne Craig, David Barstow and Russ Buettner in 2021 over their Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation of his pre-presidential finances, a judge has ordered Donald Trump to pay nearly $400,000 in legal fees to both entities.
Judge Reed Dismisses Trump’s Suit
Judge Robert Reed issued an order Friday dismissing Trump’s lawsuit against The New York Times and three reporters from it, noting that courts have long recognized reporters’ right to engage in newsgathering activities without fear of tort liability. He also ordered former President Clinton to pay the newspaper its fees.
Trump sued The Times and three of its reporters Susanne Craig, David Barstow and Russ Buettner in 2021, alleging they conspired with Mary Trump to obtain and publish information regarding his tax schemes – seeking $100 Million as damages.
Reed’s decision to dismiss the Times lawsuit was seen by the newspaper as a triumph for journalists and free speech. They expressed gratitude to Reed for recognising that Washington state’s recently amended anti-SLAPP law can serve as a powerful safeguard to defend journalists who face baseless lawsuits; Mary Trump remains named in separate litigation related to an alleged breach of confidentiality when giving reporters his tax records.
Reed Defends Reporters’ First Amendment Rights
New York’s recently amended anti-SLAPP statute can serve as an “effective weapon to defend press freedom,” the Times declared in a statement. According to court decision, those threatening press cannot use our legal system against them and silence them, according to spokesperson.
Judge Christopher May in May dismissed a lawsuit filed against The Washington Post and its reporters Susanne Craig, David Barstow and Russell Buettner regarding their Pulitzer Prize-winning 2018 story on Trump’s tax practices. His decision found that journalists’ actions were protected under the First Amendment and they had not unwittingly disclosed confidential taxpayer data.
Reed recently denied Mary Trump’s request to temporarily put her case on hold while she appeals his decision to allow the claims against her to move forward, and issued an order that requires she pay attorneys’ fees and costs totalling $392,638 in full as per Reed’s order. His decision shows how speech should never be financially burdened simply because it may embarrass or inconvenience powerful individuals, according to him.
Reed Orders Trump to Pay the Times’ Legal Fees
The New York Times expressed its satisfaction with Judge Cohn’s ruling, calling it an important precedent in protecting journalists when performing routine newsgathering to obtain vital public interest information. They added that those using legal proceedings to try to silence journalists must now face up to the consequences.
In its 2018 report, The Times’s 2018 investigation challenged Trump’s claims of self-made wealth while alleging his father’s estate engaged in tax avoidance schemes. This investigation relied upon confidential financial documents provided to them by Mary Trump despite being bound by confidentiality agreement to give them to the newspaper.
On Friday, the judge ruled that she is required to pay Susanne Craig, David Barstow and Russell Buettner of The Guardian nearly $400,000 in legal fees related to their 2021 lawsuit. Craig celebrated this ruling via Twitter founder Jack Dorsey’s app X with an enthusiastic thumbs-up emoji on X.
Reed Orders Trump to Dismiss All Claims against Mary Trump
New York judge Ruth Wisse decided that Mary Trump, his estranged niece, had nothing to hide from Times reporters Susanne Craig and David Barstow as part of their investigation of his business dealings and claims of self-made wealth. They approached Ms Trump through her attorney in order to request tax records as part of their probe; former President Trump claimed they had an “insidious plot” against him; however the judge found Ms Trump acted with legal consent in providing her files to them; thus establishing ownership.
Reed noted in his ruling that New York’s anti-SLAPP law applied, and courts have long recognized reporters’ right to engage in ordinary newsgathering activities without fear of tort liability. Additionally, he dismissed claims against Ms Trump involving her breaching a confidentiality agreement by providing the Times with her tax records; additionally he ordered Ms Trump pay legal fees associated with this case against her.
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