A federal judge has thrown out former President Donald Trump’s lawsuit accusing The Wall Street Journal of defaming him through its coverage of a lewd birthday letter allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein.
• The lawsuit centered on a letter bearing Trump’s name that was included in a 2003 birthday album prepared for Epstein.
• Trump denied writing the letter and argued that the Journal’s reporting damaged his reputation.
• The newspaper defended its coverage as accurate and protected reporting on a matter of public interest.
• The judge’s Saturday ruling ends the case at the trial-court level, though Trump could seek to appeal.
• The dispute emerged amid renewed scrutiny of Epstein’s relationships with prominent figures and the handling of records connected to him.
The ruling represents a legal victory for the Journal, while Trump continues to face intense public and media attention over his past association with Epstein.