In a significant legal setback for former President Donald Trump, a judge in London has thrown out his lawsuit against Orbis Business Intelligence. The lawsuit claimed that the infamous dossier, created by former British spy Christopher Steele, had harmed Trump’s reputation with its “shocking and scandalous claims.”
Judge Karen Steyn stated there were no compelling reasons to allow the claim to proceed to trial. The dossier, which was funded by Democrats and published during Trump’s first presidential bid against Hillary Clinton, contained unverified allegations and rumors that quickly spread through mainstream media outlets.
Trump vehemently denied the accusations in the dossier, including rumors of engaging in sexual acts with Russian prostitutes, labeling it as fake news and a political witch hunt. Seeking to clear his name, he filed the lawsuit against Orbis, alleging violations of British data protection laws and seeking damages.
However, Trump’s legal team failed to convince the judge that his data protection rights were violated. They argued that the dossier contained “egregiously inaccurate” personal data that had caused personal and reputational damage to the former president.
On the other hand, Orbis contended that the dossier, initially published by BuzzFeed, was never intended to be made public without their permission. They also argued that Trump’s lawsuit was filed too late.
Judge Steyn agreed with Orbis, stating that Trump had waited too long to vindicate his reputation in the jurisdiction. She concluded that the claim for compensation and damages was bound to fail.
Trump’s loss in the London court comes at a crucial time as he is considered the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and faces other legal challenges in the United States.
While Trump’s campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, criticized the “false and defamatory allegations” made by Christopher Steele, the judge’s ruling in London dealt a blow to Trump’s efforts to seek legal recourse against the dossier’s claims.
As a co-founder of Orbis and the former head of the Russia desk for Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, Steele was tasked by Democrats to research any potential ties between Trump and Russia.
With this lawsuit now dismissed, the focus shifts back to the upcoming 2024 presidential race and the various legal battles Trump faces on his home turf. The impact of the judge’s ruling in London remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly represents a significant setback for the former president’s pursuit of clearing his name.
