Main Topic: A federal judge dismisses Donald Trump's lawsuit against CNN over defamation claims.
Key Points:
1. Donald Trump filed a lawsuit against CNN claiming that references to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election as "the Big Lie" compared him to Adolf Hitler.
2. U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal, appointed by Trump, ruled that the references were opinions and not factual statements, dismissing Trump's defamation claims.
3. The judge stated that it was a stretch to believe that the phrase "the Big Lie" connected Trump's election challenges to Nazi propaganda or Hitler's regime.
Main Topic: The potential limits on what Donald Trump and his lawyers can say to criticize the federal election fraud case against him, impugn prosecutors, or heap scorn on the judge.
Key Points:
1. The local rules governing federal court in Washington, D.C., are stringent and prohibit lawyers from making public statements about witnesses, guilt or innocence, or the merits of the case.
2. The rules also allow a judge to issue a special order restricting what lawyers and the defendant can say in public in widely publicized or sensational criminal cases.
3. Imposing restrictions on Trump's speech presents a difficult dilemma for Judge Tanya Chutkan, as she must balance Trump's interest as a presidential candidate and the public's interest in hearing his perspective. The red line is likely to be statements that could be perceived as witness tampering or threats.
Main Topic: The New York judge overseeing the hush money criminal case against former President Donald Trump refuses to recuse himself.
Key Points:
1. Judge Juan Merchan rejects Trump's attorneys' request for recusal, stating that he is in the best position to appreciate the implications of the case.
2. Trump's attorneys argued that the judge's daughter's political and financial interests created a conflict of interest, but the judge dismissed these claims.
3. The hush money trial is set to begin on March 25, and Trump's lawyers have been seeking to remove Merchan from the case for alleged conflicts.
Main Topic: U.S. judge rules that former President Donald Trump's appeal of defamation lawsuit is "frivolous"
Key Points:
1. Judge ruled that Trump's appeal of dismissal was without merit.
2. Trump's bid to put the case on hold while he appeals was denied.
3. Trump could be ordered to pay damages if his appeal is found to be frivolous.
A Manhattan judge has rejected Donald Trump's bid to delay his civil fraud trial, calling it "completely without merit," as New York Attorney General Letitia James seeks to permanently banish Trump Org from the state.
New York state's attorney general has accused Donald Trump of potentially fraudulently inflating his net worth by up to $3.6 billion per year, as part of her civil lawsuit against the former president and his family business.
A New York judge ruled that Donald Trump committed fraud by deceiving banks, insurers, and others while building his real estate empire, rejecting his bid to dismiss a civil lawsuit brought by the New York attorney general.
Donald Trump, his adult children, and his closest business advisers may be called to testify in a civil fraud trial in New York, where a judge has found them liable for fraud related to the use of inflated financial statements.
A New York appeals court denied former President Donald Trump's motion to delay his scheduled civil fraud trial, in which he is accused of overvaluing assets to obtain better loan and insurance terms, while seeking at least $250 million in penalties.
New York City judge Arthur Engoron, who ruled that former President Donald Trump committed fraud and could lose control of his real estate empire, will preside over a non-jury trial to resolve remaining claims in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit against Trump, with James’ office seeking $250 million in damages.
Former President Donald Trump claims that the civil fraud case against him, his adult sons, and the Trump Organization is part of an attempt to interfere with his election campaign. The judge overseeing the trial has denied the media's request for cameras in the courtroom for opening statements, while Trump calls the trial a "scam and a sham." The trial, which was expected to take up to three months, will likely be shorter now that one fraud claim has already been settled. Trump continues to attack New York Attorney General Letitia James, whom he accuses of being politically motivated in bringing the lawsuit.
Donald Trump criticizes his civil fraud trial in New York, calling it a "sham" and referring to the state attorney general as a "horror show," while also labeling the judge as a "rogue judge."
Former President Donald Trump baselessly claimed that the federal Justice Department orchestrated the New York state civil fraud case against him, despite there being no evidence to support this claim.
Former President Donald Trump's decision to attend his civil trial in New York, where he is accused of fraudulently inflating his riches, was largely driven by personal reasons as the accusations directly impact his business and brand, according to sources.
Former President Donald Trump has appealed a judge's decision to not dismiss New York Attorney General Letitia James' civil fraud suit against him and his family business, which alleges inflated property values and fraudulently increasing Trump's net worth, as the trial continues.
Judge Arthur Engoron expresses frustration with Donald Trump's lawyers during his civil fraud trial, criticizing their repetitive and time-wasting cross-examination of a witness.
A judge in New York has issued a gag order against Donald Trump after he made personal attacks on a member of the judge's staff during a civil fraud case.
Former Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal stated that Donald Trump is in a very bad position in his civil suit in Manhattan, where he is being sued for fraud by the New York Attorney General.
Former President Donald Trump returns to a New York City courthouse for his civil fraud trial, claiming that the case is politically motivated and a distraction from his 2024 campaign, while New York Attorney General Letitia James alleges that Trump deceived banks and others by overvaluing his assets and inflating his net worth.
Donald Trump's lawyer, Alina Habba, criticized Attorney General Letitia James, arguing that the value of Trump's properties would be significantly lower if James's name was associated with them, amidst an ongoing civil fraud trial accusing Trump of inflating his assets.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James has requested a judge's order for a forensic examination of Trump Organization emails to investigate Allen Weisselberg's communications with Forbes, following accusations of lying under oath.