Trump labeled as the 'most preposterous litigant' in the annals of American political history, by Lawrence O'Donnell.
In a significant turn of events, President Donald Trump filed a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The lawsuit accuses the news outlet, reporters Peter Baker, Michael S. Schmidt, Susanne Craig, and Russ Buettner, as well as publisher Penguin Random House.
The lawsuit alleges that the defendants timed the release of three articles and the book 'Lucky Loser' (2025) with 'actual malice' to inflict maximum electoral damage ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The Times published a potentially consequential report on Monday showing that Trump and his family's cryptocurrency firm received $2 billion earlier this year from the United Arab Emirates.
The lawsuit includes these articles, which hit stands last year before the election. The Times' statement concluded by stating that they will continue to pursue the facts without fear or favor and stand up for journalists' First Amendment rights to ask questions on behalf of the American people.
Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel faced scrutiny on Tuesday over various issues, including his association with Jeffrey Epstein, who once described Trump as his 'closest friend.'
Lawrence O'Donnell, host of MSNBC, described the four defendants named in the filing as the 'new honor roll' at The New York Times. However, O'Donnell also noted that Trump has filed more frivolous lawsuits than any other American politician.
A spokesperson for The New York Times stated that the lawsuit filed by Donald Trump has no merit. The statement also mentioned that the lawsuit lacks any legitimate legal claims and is an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting.
The foreign investment in the cryptocurrency firm arrived around the same time as an agreement for the United Arab Emirates to obtain the world's most advanced and scarce computer chips from the U.S., as reported by The Times on Monday.
As the legal battle unfolds, The New York Times remains undeterred by intimidation tactics, according to the statement. The lawsuit seeks damages of at least $15 billion.
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