Filtering
Week: Week 35 ×
Attack target: The Press ×
Trait: Judicial independence is eroded through politicized appointments ×
Clear all
☆ Save this search
Tier 1 carried by a primary record
Corroborated 2+ independent news desks
Every result is verified and democracy-related.
Open an event to see its evidence. Attack and trait tags link to their definitions
Sep 19, 2025 Judge Steven Merryday dismissed Trump's $15 billion defamation lawsuit against the New York Times Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
A federal court rejected a presidential lawsuit as improper, protecting press freedom from litigation intimidation.
Independently corroborated by5 independent news desks
Associated Press · Axios · CNBC · PBS · The Guardian
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Judge Merryday dismissed Trump's $15 billion defamation lawsuit against the New York Times — U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday, appointed by President George H.W. Bush, threw out the defamation complaint filed by President Trump on September 15 against the New York Times. The judge called the complaint "decidedly improper and impermissible" and criticized Trump's legal team for using the lawsuit as a public forum for abusive language. The complaint contained eighty pages of praise for Trump and allegations against the Times before two defamation counts. Merryday imposed a forty-page limit on any amended complaint.
- Federal judge dismisses Trump's $15 billion libel lawsuit against New York Times — US District Judge Steven Merryday in Florida dismissed President Trump's $15 billion libel and defamation lawsuit against the New York Times, ruling that the complaint lacked "any legitimate legal claims." Merryday, a Bush appointee, gave Trump 28 days to file a revised complaint and ridiculed the original filing, stating that a complaint is not "a public forum for vituperation and invective" or "a megaphone for public relations."
- Federal judge tossed Trump's defamation lawsuit against New York Times — A federal judge dismissed Trump's defamation lawsuit against the New York Times, calling the complaint "improper and impermissible" and stating that "a complaint is not a public forum for vituperation and invective — not a protected platform to rage against an adversary." The judge ordered any revised complaint be limited to 40 pages.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 35 – 2025-09-13–2025-09-19
wk35_IG_042