Trump's Lawsuit Over Steele Dossier Dismissed by UK High Court
London's High Court has dismissed Donald Trump's lawsuit against Orbis Business Intelligence, a British private investigations firm, over allegations made in the infamous Steele Dossier. The dossier, authored by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele in 2016, claimed that there were ties between Trump's presidential election campaign and Russia.
Seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Trump filed a data protection lawsuit against Orbis. However, Judge Karen Steyn ruled it could not proceed, stating, "there are no compelling reasons to allow the claim to proceed."
In a witness statement, Trump emphasized that the dossier's claims, including "perverted sexual acts" in Russia, are false. Lawyers for the 77-year-old argued the dossier was "egregiously inaccurate," but Judge Steyn noted Trump's case lacked "reasonable grounds for compensation or damages."
The lawsuit, one of several legal battles involving Trump, faced criticism from Orbis's counsel, Antony White, who claimed it was part of a "vendetta" against the consultancy and Steele. Justice Steyn, in her judgement, concluded, "there are no compelling reasons to allow the claim to proceed to trial." Trump's pursuit of compensation and damages, she argued, was "bound to fail," given the absence of a viable remedy.
The decision adds to the legal challenges faced by Trump, who is currently entangled in four separate criminal prosecutions in the United States.
