{ "id": 17474451, "title": "Judge dismisses with prejudice Trump lawsuit against Wall Street Journal", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/judge-dismisses-with-prejudice-trump-lawsuit-against-wall-street", "topic": "world", "section": "World", "published": "2026-10-31T20:59:41.000Z", "source": { "name": "CBS News", "slug": "cbs-news", "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-lawsuit-wall-street-journal-epstein-birthday-letter-dismissed/" }, "original_language": "en", "account": "President Trump's $20 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over a story alleging his involvement in a sexually suggestive letter for Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday book has been dismissed with prejudice by U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami. The ruling, a 20-page document, stated that Trump failed to prove the newspaper made defamatory statements with actual malice. Actual malice requires proof that the statements were published knowingly false or with disregard for their truth. The dismissal is permanent, and Trump cannot refile the suit. Trump's legal team stated they will continue to hold those who spread \"Fake News\" and smears accountable, but a source said an appeal is likely. The lawsuit stemmed from a WSJ report describing a letter allegedly containing Trump's name in an album for Epstein's birthday. Trump dismissed the story as \"FAKE\" and filed the lawsuit, which included the newspaper, its parent company, the CEO, reporters, and News Corp's chairman.", "summary": "U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles dismissed Donald Trump's multibillion-dollar defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch with prejudice. According to the South China Morning Post, the ruling states the lawsuit was \"grasping at straws\" by attempting to \"manufacture\" flaws in investigative reporting. The dismissal is permanent and prevents the case from being refiled.\n\nThe legal action concerned a story regarding Trump's ties to financier Jeffrey Epstein, specifically a report about a sexually suggestive letter from 2003 included in an album for Epstein’s 50th birthday. The South China Morning Post reports the letter, which allegedly bore Trump's name, featured text framed by the outline of a hand-drawn naked woman. While Trump called the reporting \"false, malicious, and defamatory,\" Judge Gayles ruled that Trump did not prove the defendants acted with actual malice.\n\nAxios notes that this marks the second time courts have blocked Trump's attempts this year to sue the newspaper over stories involving his relationship with Epstein. Deadline reported the lawsuit sought $10 billion.", "key_points": [ "Trump's $20 billion defamation lawsuit against Wall Street Journal dismissed", "Judge Darrin Gayles rules actual malice not proven", "Trump cannot refile suit, likely to appeal" ], "editors_take": null, "illustration": null, "coverage": { "outlets": 11, "also_reported_by": [ { "outlet": "Investing.com", "title": "US judge dismisses Trump’s lawsuit against Wall Street Journal with prejudice", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/us-judge-dismisses-trumps-lawsuit-against-wall-street-journal-with", "published": "2026-10-31T19:36:21.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Axios", "title": "Judge tosses Trump lawsuit against WSJ, Murdoch over Epstein story", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/judge-tosses-trump-lawsuit-against-wsj-murdoch-over-epstein-story", "published": "2026-10-31T19:52:08.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News", "title": "Trump lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein birthday letter is dismissed with prejudice", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/trump-lawsuit-against-wall-street-journal-over-epstein-birthday-17468235", "published": "2026-10-31T20:11:49.000Z" }, { "outlet": "CBC News", "title": "Trump lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein birthday letter dismissed with prejudice", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/trump-lawsuit-against-wall-street-journal-over-epstein-birthday", "published": "2026-10-31T20:13:16.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Deadline", "title": "Judge Again Tosses Out Donald Trump’s $10 Billion Lawsuit Against The Wall Street Journal Over Its Reporting On Jeffrey Epstein Birthday Letter", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/judge-again-tosses-out-donald-trumps-10-billion-lawsuit-against-the", "published": "2026-10-31T20:15:54.000Z" }, { "outlet": "South China Morning Post", "title": "Judge throws out Trump lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein birthday letter", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/judge-throws-out-trump-lawsuit-against-wall-street-journal-over", "published": "2026-10-31T20:24:33.000Z" }, { "outlet": "PBS NewsHour", "title": "Judge dismisses Trump suit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein birthday letter", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/judge-dismisses-trump-suit-against-wall-street-journal-over-epstein", "published": "2026-10-31T21:32:54.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Al Jazeera", "title": "Trump loses legal battle over Epstein-linked Wall Street Journal case", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/trump-loses-legal-battle-over-epstein-linked-wall-street-journal-case", "published": "2026-10-31T22:36:41.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Variety", "title": "Judge Dismisses Trump’s Wall Street Journal Defamation Lawsuit Over Published Epstein ‘Birthday Book’ for a Second Time", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/judge-dismisses-trumps-wall-street-journal-defamation-lawsuit-over", "published": "2026-10-31T23:23:28.000Z" }, { "outlet": "New Straits Times", "title": "Judge dismisses Trump's US$10b lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein letter", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/judge-dismisses-trumps-us-10b-lawsuit-against-wall-street-journal", "published": "2026-10-31T23:46:45.000Z" } ] }, "ai_generated": true, "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original." }