Donald Trump’s lawsuit over the infamous Steele dossier has been dismissed by the U.K. High Court. The former president had brought a claim against Christopher Steele, a former British spy, and his consultancy, Orbis Business Intelligence, alleging data protection breaches. The dossier contained salacious allegations of Trump engaging in perverted sexual acts and paying bribes to Russian officials during the 2016 election campaign. However, the court dismissed Trump’s case, stating that it did not have a real chance of succeeding.
The dossier, which made extravagant claims about links between Trump’s campaign and Russian officials, including an allegation that Trump had defiled a Moscow hotel bed used by Barack and Michelle Obama, was published by BuzzFeed in early 2017. Trump’s lawyers argued that the allegations in the report were false and had caused personal and reputational damage. However, the court did not address the accuracy of the dossier, focusing instead on the lack of prospects for success in Trump’s claim.
Judge Karen Steyn noted in her judgment that Orbis’s possession of copies of the dossier could not have caused Trump distress, as versions of it were freely available online. She ruled that there were no compelling reasons for the claim to proceed to trial, as the chance of success was negligible.
Trump, who is currently the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is involved in various legal battles in U.S. courts. However, his attempt to seek damages in the U.K. over the Steele dossier has now been unsuccessful.
Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump’s campaign, stated that Steele and his group had failed to justify or prove the false and defamatory allegations in the dossier. Cheung added that Trump would continue to fight against falsehoods and for the truth.
In response to the ruling, Antony White, a lawyer for Orbis, accused Trump of repeatedly bringing frivolous and meritless claims for the purpose of vexing and harassing perceived enemies or those against whom he holds a grudge.
The dismissal of Trump’s case by the U.K. High Court marks another setback in his ongoing legal battles. As the former president continues his fight in U.S. courts, the controversy surrounding the Steele dossier and its impact on Trump’s reputation shows no signs of abating.
