London’s High Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump against Orbis Business Intelligence, a British private investigations firm, over allegations made in the infamous ‘Steele dossier.’ The dossier, compiled by Orbis co-founder and former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, claimed ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia. The High Court ruled on Thursday that there were no compelling reasons to allow the former U.S. president’s data protection lawsuit to proceed.
The lawsuit centered on Trump’s attempt to challenge the claims presented in the Steele dossier, which was published by BuzzFeed in 2017. The dossier contained unverified allegations, including assertions of Trump engaging in “perverted sexual acts” in Russia. The former president, currently the leading contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, sought legal action to prove the falsity of these claims.
Judge Karen Steyn delivered the ruling, stating that there were no compelling reasons to allow Trump’s case to continue. The written ruling emphasized that Trump’s legal action lacked reasonable grounds for seeking compensation or damages. While Trump, 77, declared in a witness statement that the dossier’s allegations were false, the court did not make a determination on the accuracy of these claims.
In the witness statement made public in October, Trump asserted that the Steele dossier contained “egregiously inaccurate” and “numerous false, phoney, or made-up allegations.” His lawsuit aimed to challenge these allegations and disprove the claims of inappropriate activities in Russia. However, the court’s decision implies that Trump’s legal challenge did not meet the necessary criteria for proceeding.
Orbis, the target of Trump’s lawsuit, argued that the legal action was driven by the former president’s “longstanding grievances” against the company and Christopher Steele. The court did not delve into determining the motivations behind Trump’s lawsuit, as it found the lack of reasonable grounds for seeking compensation or damages sufficient to reject the case.
This London lawsuit adds to the array of legal challenges faced by Donald Trump, who is currently entangled in four separate criminal prosecutions in the United States. The rejection of his case in the UK underscores the complexities surrounding legal battles involving the former president, who continues to be a prominent figure in American politics.
The dismissal of Donald Trump’s lawsuit against Orbis Business Intelligence signifies a legal setback for the former president in his efforts to dispute the claims made in the Steele dossier. The court’s ruling, citing the absence of compelling reasons and reasonable grounds for compensation, highlights the challenges in pursuing legal action based on unverified allegations. As Trump faces various legal battles, the UK court’s decision adds another chapter to the ongoing legal saga surrounding the former U.S. president.
