President-elected Donald Trump has demanded $10 billion in damages from the New York Times (NYT) and Penguin Random House (PRH) for publishing "false and defamatory statements" against him.
The demand, outlined in a 10-page letter signed by Trump's attorney Edward Andrew Paltzik, accuses the NYT and PRH of publishing "false and defamatory statements" in articles and a book scrutinizing the financial dealings and public persona of Trump.
According to Columbia Journalism Review, the letter sent a week before the 2024 presidential election, specifically targeted stories by NYT journalists Peter Baker, Michael S. Schmidt, Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner. (Related: GASLIGHTING: Mainstream media claims Trump supporters pose a bigger threat of election-related violence than the radical left.)
Buettner and Craig wrote two stories related to their book on Trump titled "Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father's Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success," which was published by PRH on Sept. 17; Baker wrote "For Trump, a Lifetime of Scandals Heads Toward a Moment of Judgment" on Oct. 20; and Schmidt wrote "As Election Nears, Kelly Warns Trump Would Rule Like a Dictator" on Oct. 22.
"There was a time, long ago when the New York Times was considered the 'newspaper of record,'" the letter reads. "Those halcyon days have passed." Additionally, the letter accused the publication of being "a full-throated mouthpiece of the Democratic Party" that employs "industrial-scale libel against political opponents."
The letter accuses the NYT of intentionally defaming Trump, his brand and his candidacy for U.S. president by portraying him negatively despite his extensive achievements in business, media, real estate and as a cultural figure. It also claims that the newspaper falsely disparaged Trump by undermining his reputation and causing financial harm to Trump Media.
The letter highlights the influence on New York City's skyline, his authorship of 23 books and notable media appearances to debunk the false claims of the newspaper and the book publisher. It describes his achievements as emblematic of the American Dream and criticizes the newspaper for allegedly misinterpreting his accomplishments and legacy.
Trump campaign launches a series of legal actions against media outlets
Aside from NYT and PRH, the Trump campaign has also launched a series of legal actions against other media outlets.
On Oct. 31, Paltzik also filed a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS News for editing the "60 Minutes" interview with outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris to favor her. The case was filed in a Texas jurisdiction known for its single-judge court. CBS News has dismissed the allegations, called the lawsuit "completely without merit" and pledged a vigorous defense.
That same day, the Trump campaign also submitted a six-page complaint to the Federal Election Commission accusing the Washington Post of making illegal in-kind contributions to Harris' campaign by promoting stories favorable to her. The Post rejected the allegations and maintained that the claims lacked merit.
The legal disputes extended to the Daily Beast, with Trump campaign co-chief Chris LaCivita demanding retractions and corrections over reports that he had "raked in" $22 million in campaign funds. The publication issued an editor's note clarifying that the correct amount was $19.2 million and that payments were made to LaCivita's LLC, not to him personally.
However, LaCivita and his attorney, Mark Geragos, found the clarification insufficient. They claimed the coverage still implied deceptive practices. Geragos sent another legal demand on Nov. 12 for a full retraction and asserted that the reporting damaged LaCivita's reputation.
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