Donald Trump’s Steele dossier lawsuit dismissed by London court – POLITICO
The ruling says while the court did not “consider or determine the accuracy or inaccuracy of the memoranda,” the former U.S. president and current Republican front-runner’s damages claim fell outside of a six-year period of “limitations.”
Trump therefore was deemed to have “no reasonable grounds for bringing a claim for compensation or damages, and no real prospect of successfully obtaining such a remedy,” the Guardian reported.
Trump’s attorney Hugh Tomlinson previously argued that his client “suffered personal and reputational damage and distress” through the release of the document, which was made public by BuzzFeed News in 2017.
Responding to the court decision in a punchy statement Thursday, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said: “The High Court in London has found that there was not even an attempt by Christopher Steele, or his group, to justify or try to prove, which they absolutely cannot, their false and defamatory allegations in the fake ‘dossier.’
“The High Court also found that there was processing, utilization, of those false statements. President Trump will continue to fight for the truth and against falsehoods such as ones promulgated by Steele and his cohorts.”
But, in its own statement Thursday evening, Orbis said it was “delighted” with the “meticulous and comprehensive judgment striking out Donald Trump’s data protection claim” — and argued the case “should never have been brought.”
The firm added: “Orbis stands by its sources and work and will not be deflected by such lawfare’ practices. We shall endeavour to continue serving our clients with skill and professional integrity.”
This story was updated to include comment from the Trump campaign and Orbis.
