Iowa State Sen. Michael Bousselot joined Fox & Friends First to discuss his predictions for the Iowa caucuses as concern surrounding voter turnout grows amid severe winter weather. Former President Donald Trump has been ordered to pay The New York Times nearly $400,000 in legal fees stemming from a lawsuit he brought against the publication, three of its reporters, and his niece over a Pulitzer Prize-winning story about his family’s wealth and tax practices.
In 2021, Trump filed a $100 million lawsuit against the liberal paper and his niece, Mary Trump, accusing them of interfering with his contractual rights and conspiring against him to obtain and publish his tax records. However, Justice Robert R. Reed threw out the lawsuit against the newspaper and reporters, stating that Trump’s claims failed as a matter of constitutional law. The court has ordered Trump to pay the New York Times $400,000 in legal fees.
The decision has been seen as a victory for press freedom, with the Times spokesperson, Danielle Rhoads Ha, stating that the court’s decision shows the power of New York’s anti-SLAPP statute in protecting press freedom. SLAPP stands for strategic lawsuits against public participation, which are used to intimidate and silence criticism through baseless legal proceedings.
Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, expressed disappointment that the Times and its reporters were dropped from the case but affirmed that they are pleased the court has affirmed the strength of their claims against Mary Trump. The lawsuit against Mary Trump is still pending.
The lawsuit alleges that Mary Trump had access to confidential and highly sensitive documents, including financial records and tax returns, pertaining to the former president. It claims that the Times “had actual knowledge that the Confidential Records were, in fact, confidential.” The suit also accuses one of the reporters, Susanne Craig, of persistently seeking out Mary Trump and providing her with a “burner” phone to help smuggle the documents.
Mary Trump, who has been a vocal critic of her uncle, has written books criticizing him and regularly appears on liberal cable news networks. The New York Times published an article in 2018 based on confidential tax returns and financial records, which acknowledged their confidentiality.
This ruling serves as a reminder of the importance of press freedom and the consequences of baseless lawsuits against media outlets. It also highlights the ongoing legal battles surrounding Trump’s tax records and the complicated relationship between Trump and his niece.
