In a legal development, former President Donald Trump has been instructed to pay $392,638 in legal fees to The New York Times and investigative reporters Susanne Craig, David Barstow, and Russell Buettner, following an unsuccessful lawsuit. The legal action, stemming from a Pulitzer Prize-winning 2018 story on Trump’s family wealth and tax practices, saw the dismissal of the newspaper and reporters from the case in May.
New York Judge Robert Reed, citing the complexity of the case, ruled that Trump must cover the legal expenses for the Times and the reporters. This decision underscores the significance of New York’s anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) statute, designed to protect press freedom by discouraging baseless lawsuits.
While this marks a victory for the press, Trump’s pending claim against his estranged niece, Mary Trump, continues. He alleges that she breached a prior settlement agreement by providing tax records to the reporters. The court denied Mary Trump’s request to put the case on hold while she appeals a previous decision allowing Trump’s claim against her to proceed.
Trump’s lawsuit, filed in 2021, accused The New York Times and its reporters of aggressively seeking information from Mary Trump and persuading her to disclose confidential tax records. The case delves into Trump’s challenge against the Times’ reporting, which questioned his claims of self-made wealth and exposed financial transactions between him and his father, Fred Trump.
The Times’ report detailed how Fred Trump reportedly provided Donald Trump with substantial financial support over the years, including through tax avoidance strategies. Mary Trump, who identified herself as the source of the documents, became a central figure in the controversy.
In a broader context, the legal proceedings reflect the ongoing legal battles involving Donald Trump, his family, and the media. Mary Trump, an outspoken critic of her uncle, filed a counterclaim in July under New York’s anti-SLAPP law, characterizing Donald Trump’s lawsuit as retaliatory and lacking merit, with an intent to stifle criticism.
As the legal saga continues, these developments underscore the intersection of legal challenges, press freedom, and the broader scrutiny of Trump’s financial history.
