Overview
- U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles in Miami dismissed the case Monday without prejudice, giving Trump until April 27 to submit an amended complaint.
- The ruling said the Wall Street Journal sought comment from Trump, the Justice Department, and the FBI and published Trump’s denial, which undercut a claim that the paper recklessly ignored the truth.
- The court did not decide whether the 2003 birthday note tied to Jeffrey Epstein is authentic, calling authorship a factual dispute not suitable for resolution at this stage.
- Dow Jones, News Corp, and the Journal have defended the story as accurate, pointing to Epstein‑estate records later released by Congress that match the article’s description.
- The judge also said a separate per quod claim lacked any specific financial losses, and Trump’s legal team says he will refile by the court’s deadline under the demanding New York Times v. Sullivan standard.