CNS News–Former President Donald Trump has been ordered by a New York judge to pay almost $400,000 to cover the legal expenses of The New York Times and its reporters, stemming from a dismissed lawsuit. Trump had accused the newspaper and his niece, Mary Trump, of conspiring to publish his tax records. However, Judge Robert Reed ruled in favor of the Times, citing First Amendment protections and dismissing the case in May 2023.
The amount, $392,638.69, was determined to be a reasonable fee for the complex legal services rendered in the case. While a portion of the lawsuit against Mary Trump continues, her request for legal fee reimbursement was denied.
This legal battle originated from a 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation by New York Times reporters Susanne Craig, David Barstow, and Russell Buettner, which disclosed details of Trump’s wealth and taxes. Trump’s lawsuit claimed a breach of a confidentiality agreement by his niece and alleged an “insidious plot” by the reporters to obtain his tax records.
Judge orders Trump to pay nearly $400,000 for New York Times’ legal fees https://t.co/dq3luGH6Ij
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) January 12, 2024
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The Times welcomed the judge’s decision as a validation of press freedom and a deterrent against frivolous defamation cases designed to silence journalists. Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, had argued for holding journalists accountable for civil wrongs, asserting that The New York Times went beyond permissible news-gathering techniques.