In a decisive ruling, London’s High Court dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s data protection lawsuit against British private investigations firm Orbis Business Intelligence. The legal challenge centered around allegations made in a dossier authored by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, suggesting ties between Trump’s campaign and Russia.
Judge Karen Steyn, presiding over the case, delivered a written ruling asserting that there were no compelling reasons to allow Trump’s claim to proceed. Trump, currently the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, brought the lawsuit to disprove the dossier’s claims, particularly those asserting his involvement in “perverted sexual acts” in Russia.
The Steele dossier, published by BuzzFeed in 2017, contained unverified and disputed allegations. Trump’s legal team argued that the report was “egregiously inaccurate” and contained numerous false or fabricated claims. However, Steyn emphasized in her ruling that she had not determined the accuracy of the allegations.
Orbis Business Intelligence contended that Trump’s lawsuit was driven by “longstanding grievances” against the company and Steele. Steyn, in her decisive statement, stated that she did not need to delve into those allegations as Trump lacked reasonable grounds for pursuing compensation or damages.
This London lawsuit adds to the array of legal challenges faced by Trump, who concurrently faces four separate criminal prosecutions in the United States. The court’s dismissal marks a significant development in Trump’s ongoing legal battles, shaping the trajectory of his post-presidential legal landscape.
