Judge dismisses Trump Media $3.8B suit Washington Post

A federal judge in Florida has dismissed a $3.8 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Trump Media and Technology Group against The Washington Post, handing the newspaper a significant legal victory. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Thomas Patrick Barber, found that the company failed to present evidence that the Post acted with "actual malice," the high legal standard required for public figures to prevail in such cases.

The lawsuit stemmed from a May 2023 article that reported on an obscure financial entity, which billed itself as a top payment service for adult entertainment sites, and its potential to gain a sizable stake in Trump Media amid merger negotiations. The article, based on leaked documents, stated this potential role had not been officially disclosed to shareholders or securities regulators. Lawyers for Trump Media accused the newspaper of a "yearslong crusade" and claimed the report created an "existential threat" to the company.

In a summary docket entry, Judge Barber concluded that Trump Media "failed to present evidence that would allow a jury to find by clear and convincing evidence that The Post published the allegedly defamatory statements with actual...