Judge dismisses Trump's Wall Street Journal Epstein letter defamation lawsuit

In short, Judge Darrin P. Gales dismissed the lawsuit because Trump’s legal team failed to “adequately allege actual malice,” in particular because the WSJ contacted Trump before the letter’s publication. However, the lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice, meaning that Trump can refile the lawsuit by April 27. “Moreover, whether President Trump was the author of the Letter or Epstein’s friend are questions of fact that cannot be determined at this stage of the litigation,” writes Gales in his decision. “While the produced documents certainly appear identical to the album and Letter referenced in the Article, the Court cannot, simply by taking judicial notice, find that they are the same, particularly where President Trump disputes their accuracy.” So, if Trump wants to refile this lawsuit, we could end up seeing a trial about whether he and Epstein were really friends.