NEW YORK—President Trump late last night filed a lawsuit against The New York Times and Penguin Random House seeking $15 billion, alleging defamation and accusing the news outlet of being a “virtual mouthpiece” for the Democratic Party. 

The following can be attributed to Katie Fallow, deputy litigation director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University.

“Trump’s lawsuit against The New York Times and Penguin Random House is his latest attempt to weaponize defamation law to silence legitimate journalistic criticism and accountability reporting. The complaint is frivolous on its face, seeking to transform protected First Amendment speech—including investigative reporting about Trump’s business practices, family wealth, and celebrity status—into actionable defamation claims. The complaint is full of bluster but short on any allegations of specific false statements of fact that would meet the rigorous standards for defamation claims brought by public figures. Trump’s new lawsuit appears designed not to vindicate any genuine reputational harm, but to impose crushing legal costs on media organizations and create a chilling effect that will deter future critical coverage of Trump’s conduct and business dealings.”

For more information, contact Adriana Lamirande: [email protected]