Former President Donald Trump has been ordered to pay nearly $400,000 in legal fees to the New York Times and three of its reporters, a judge recently ordered.
The ruling came after Trump filed a $100 million lawsuit accusing the newspaper and journalists of engaging in an “insidious plot” to obtain his confidential tax information.
Trump previously claimed the outlet, as well as his estranged niece, Mary Trump, were motivated “by a personal vendetta and their desire to gain fame, notoriety, acclaim and a financial windfall and were further intended to advance their political agenda.”
New York Judge Robert Reed dismissed the Times and reporters from the suit, and ordered Trump to cover the thousands of dollars worth of attorney’s fees and legal expenses due to a “complexity of issues.”
“Courts have long recognized that reporters are entitled to engage in legal and ordinary newsgathering activities without fear of tort liability — as these actions are at the very core of protected First Amendment activity,” Reed said in May.
The judge also rejected a request by Mary Trump to pause the case while she appealed a June case against her.
“While we are disappointed that the NY Times is no longer in this matter, we are pleased that the Court once again affirmed the strength of our claims against Mary and is denying her attempt to avoid accountability,” Trump attorney Alina Habba told reporters. “We look forward to proceeding with our claims against her.”
