Trump sues ex-spy Steele over 2016 dossier.
Trump Takes Legal Action Against Former Spy Christopher Steele Over Infamous 2016 Dossier
A lawyer representing Donald Trump informed a London judge on Monday that the former president intends to prove the falsehood of “shocking and scandalous claims” made about him in a widely discredited report by a former British spy, which had a detrimental impact on his reputation.
Trump has filed a lawsuit against Orbis Business Intelligence, the company founded by Christopher Steele, who compiled a dossier in 2016 containing unverified allegations and rumors about Trump that caused a political uproar just before his inauguration.
In his legal action, Trump is seeking damages from Orbis Business Intelligence for allegedly violating British data protection laws.
Steele’s firm is seeking to have the case dismissed, and a judge has stated that she will make a ruling at a later date after hearing arguments in London’s High Court.
This lawsuit comes at a time when Trump is the leading contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, while simultaneously facing legal challenges on the other side of the Atlantic.
Trump’s legal team is currently engaged in a civil fraud trial in New York, where they are accused of deceiving banks, insurers, and others by inflating Trump’s assets and net worth to secure loans and business deals. Additionally, Trump faces four separate criminal cases involving allegations such as mishandling classified documents, attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election, and making hush money payments to a porn actress to conceal an affair.
During the court proceedings, Trump’s lawyer acknowledged that his client is a “controversial figure” who often expresses himself using strong language and has faced criticism from U.S. judges. However, he argued that these factors are irrelevant to the current case.
According to attorney Hugh Tomlinson, Trump has suffered “personal and reputational damage and distress” due to the violation of his data protection rights.
Steele, a former MI6 officer who previously worked on the Russia desk for the Secret Intelligence Service, was commissioned by Democrats to compile research that included salacious allegations suggesting that Russians could potentially blackmail Trump based on his sexual activities. Trump vehemently denied the dossier’s claims, dismissing them as fake news and a politically motivated witch hunt.
Tomlinson emphasized that the dossier contained “shocking and scandalous claims about the personal conduct of President Trump,” including allegations of bribery involving Russian officials to advance his business interests. Trump’s case is centered on proving that this personal data is “egregiously inaccurate,” Tomlinson stated.
Tomlinson further revealed that Trump intends to present evidence in court to demonstrate the falsity of the report’s claims.
In a written witness statement, Trump asserted that despite Steele’s assertions, the allegations in the dossier have not been disproven and are “wholly untrue.”
Trump specifically denied engaging in “perverted sexual behavior, including hiring prostitutes in the presidential suite of a hotel in Moscow,” participating in “sex parties” in St. Petersburg, bribing Russian officials, or providing them with compromising material for blackmail purposes.
He also denied any involvement in bribing, coercing, or silencing witnesses.
Orbis Business Intelligence is seeking the dismissal of the lawsuit, arguing that the dossier was never intended for public release and was published by BuzzFeed without Steele’s or Orbis’s permission. Additionally, they claim that the lawsuit was filed too late.
Antony White, the attorney representing Orbis, accused Trump of harboring a “deep and intense animus” towards Steele and the firm, alleging that Trump has a long history of filing frivolous and vexatious claims to harass his perceived enemies and those he holds grudges against.
In a court filing, White cited Trump’s previous calls for Steele to be extradited, tried, and imprisoned, as well as Trump’s derogatory remarks referring to Steele as a “lowlife” and “sleazebag” involved in the “Russian collusion hoax” and responsible for producing a “total phony con job” dossier.
In his witness statement, Trump clarified that his intention is not to harass, seek revenge, or financially ruin Orbis, but rather to establish the falsehood of the information contained in the dossier.
Trump emphasized, “Until there is such a judgment, I continue to suffer damage and distress as a result of people wrongfully believing that the data in the dossier is accurate.”
In two previous High Court cases, judges ruled that Orbis and Steele were not legally liable for the consequences of publishing the dossier.
Last year, a federal judge in Florida dismissed Trump’s lawsuit against Steele, his 2016 Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, and former top FBI officials, rejecting Trump’s claims that they conspired to fabricate the Russia investigation that overshadowed much of his presidency.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
The post Trump Sues Former Spy Christopher Steele Over Infamous 2016 Dossier appeared first on The Western Journal.
What potential implications could the outcome of this lawsuit have on the credibility of both Trump and Steele
Eele and suggested that the lawsuit is merely an attempt to silence and discredit him.
“This case is about attempts by Mr. Trump to silence Mr. Steele and to quash discussion of the issues raised by the dossier,” White argued in court. ”The allegation that Mr. Trump has not been able to defend his reputation or take legal action is simply not true.”
White also claimed that there is no evidence to support Trump’s allegation that the dossier caused him reputational damage, pointing out that Trump has always been a controversial figure with a long history of scandals and controversies.
“Any damage to his reputation would likely have been caused by his own actions and not by the publication of the dossier,” White stated.
If the case proceeds, it could potentially shed light on the veracity of the claims made in the infamous 2016 dossier and further shape Trump’s reputation as he considers a potential presidential run in 2024.
However, legal experts suggest that proving falsehood in a defamation case can be challenging, as Trump will need to demonstrate that the statements were made with actual malice or knowing falsity.
The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications not only for Trump but also for the credibility of Christopher Steele and the dossier, which has been a subject of controversy and debate since its release in 2016.
As the legal battle unfolds, the public will be watching closely to see how this case develops and what impact it may have on the reputation of both Trump and Steele.
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