Judge declines to support Trump's ongoing legal battle against The New York Times momentarily
In a move sparking debate about press freedom and freedom of speech in the United States, former President Donald Trump has filed a new lawsuit against the New York Times and several journalists in a Florida court. The lawsuit, alleging intentional and malicious defamation, is related to the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. Trump is seeking $15 billion (approximately €12.7 billion) in damages. However, the complaint was initially dismissed by a U.S. court, with Judge Steven Merryday ruling that the complaint was too detailed and lengthy. The judge instructed Trump to limit the amended complaint to a maximum of 40 pages and argued that a complaint should be 'fair, precise, direct, and dispassionate.' Trump was given 28 days to amend the complaint. The current complaint spans 85 pages and alleges only two instances of defamation. The New York Times has rejected Trump's lawsuit, stating it lacks a valid legal basis and is an attempt to intimidate independent journalism. The Times' spokesperson has stated that they will continue to investigate fearlessly and defend the constitutional right of journalists to question in the public interest. This is not Trump's first lawsuit against U.S. media. He has previously filed lawsuits against CBS and ABC, both of which were settled out of court for millions. Critics view these lawsuits as an attack on press freedom, while supporters argue that they are necessary to protect Trump's reputation. The case is likely to generate significant legal and political interest in the coming weeks. In a separate development, the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) has recently imposed new restrictions on press reporting about the military that require journalists to have prior official approval for information release, effectively limiting independent press inquiries beyond the Pentagon's control. This is a separate government move besides any legal actions involving Trump. No specific defamatory statements made by the New York Times have been provided in the current paragraph. The New York Times has not made any public comments about the specific allegations in the lawsuit.
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