Blue Press Journal 9/19/2025 – In a humiliating blow to President Donald Trump, a federal judge has dismissed his defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, citing a complaint that was deemed too lengthy and rambling to meet the basic standards of federal court. The lawsuit, filed earlier this week, accused the newspaper of defaming Trump in an opinion piece that suggested his campaign had a secret deal with Russia to defeat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.
Judge Steven Merryday, a George H.W. Bush appointee, threw out the complaint under Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which requires complaints to contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” In a scathing rebuke, Merryday reminded Trump’s attorney that a complaint is not a platform for “vituperation and invective” or a “megaphone for public relations,” but rather a concise and legally sound statement of claims.
The dismissal is a significant setback for Trump, who has a history of using lawsuits to silence his critics and intimidate the media. The lawsuit was widely seen as an attempt to bully The New York Times into retracting its opinion piece and apologizing for its criticism of Trump. However, the judge’s ruling makes it clear that Trump’s complaint failed to meet even the most basic standards of legal pleading.
The ruling is also a victory for the First Amendment and the freedom of the press to criticize public figures without fear of reprisal. The New York Times and other media outlets have been subject to repeated attacks by Trump, who has labeled them “fake news” and “enemies of the people.” However, the judge’s ruling suggests that such attacks will not be tolerated in a court of law.
In a week that began with Trump’s bombastic and overwrought complaint, it is fitting that it should end with a judge throwing out the lawsuit and reminding Trump’s attorney of the basic rules of legal pleading. As Merryday’s ruling makes clear, the courts will not be used as a platform for Trump’s personal vendettas or public relations campaigns. The rule of law applies to everyone, including the President of the United States.
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