After the New York Times on Wednesday published its interview with two women who say Donald Trump sexually assaulted them, it wasn’t much longer before several sources within the campaign confirmed that Trump was already drafting a lawsuit against the paper.
NEWS: Trump tonight is considering litigation against news organizations, per two people close to him
— Robert Costa (@costareports) October 13, 2016
A lawsuit is being drafted now by Trump against the NYT. Very possible it could be announced tonight, though discussions ongoing.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) October 13, 2016
On what basis? On-the-record sources making allegations against a public figure. He'd have to prove their comments false AND Times malicious https://t.co/kHST5JKQ9S
— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) October 13, 2016
TRUMP is furious about the news stories tonight. "Going to war" is how multiple top sources describe the coming response…
— Robert Costa (@costareports) October 13, 2016
3 senior level sources confirm to ABC – Trump is drafting a lawsuit against the New York Times for defamation. 1 source tells me "it's war"
— John Santucci (@Santucci) October 13, 2016
If it gets that far, the discovery process is going to be one for the ages. https://t.co/WHL2EWlgKQ
— Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) October 13, 2016
The Times article was published nearly consecutively with two other reports alleging sexual assault, along with the announcement that another accuser would tell her story Thursday morning on the Today Show. Oh, and a writer for People just published her own first-person account of an assault in 2005.
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SEVEN ALLEGATIONS against Trump today:
– Buzzfeed News
– New York Times
– Guardian
– Palm Beach Post
– CBS News
– People Magazine
– NBC News— Scott Bixby (@scottbix) October 13, 2016
That’s a lot of lawsuits to file all at once with a campaign to run.
“For the record, Mr. Trump, I did not consent.” A People magazine writer on how Trump physically attacked her. https://t.co/DzT8ATAavy
— Matt Viser (@mviser) October 13, 2016
This is what a People magazine reporter said Donald Trump told her after he kissed her without her consent https://t.co/cI2EBWAsWz pic.twitter.com/2Xb5yRA0vd
— Matt O'Brien (@ObsoleteDogma) October 13, 2016
A reporter's account of Trump "pushing me against the wall, and and forcing his tongue down my throat." https://t.co/0JNycq0P8y
— Harry Siegel (@harrysiegel) October 13, 2016
While People was preparing to publish its piece, a Trump adviser reportedly passed along word that not only would Trump’s suit against the Times be HUGE, but that Trump was filing the suit personally.
Senior Trump adviser confirms campaign drafting lawsuit against NYT
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) October 13, 2016
Trump adviser says Trump is planning to sue NYT "himself" and it will be "huge." It's not being done by campaign
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) October 13, 2016
These are the actions of a man who believes he will still be a private citizen next year. https://t.co/I6yhVwnPM7
— Ben Howe (@BenHowe) October 13, 2016
Ouch. A lot of people are getting that impression, and almost no one in the media seems to think Trump has any chance prevailing against the Times in a lawsuit, no matter how huge.
https://twitter.com/SopanDeb/status/786382809871024128
For context, Trump threatened he would sue NYT in Jan when I reported an Iowa organizer of his had filed sex discrim complaint. No suit yet
— Trip Gabriel (@tripgabriel) October 13, 2016
lol this is silly. there's no way he's going to open himself up to discovery proceedings https://t.co/KrKyQYLotB
— Michelle Fields (@MichelleFields) October 13, 2016
Donald Trump threatens to sue New York Times over latest report of sexual harassment. (Won't happen.) https://t.co/j2z6etFV22
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) October 13, 2016
Yeah this will never ever happen and he could never possibly win if it did. https://t.co/i5UiyYTidP
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) October 13, 2016
Discovery in this would be great, but sadly/thankfully such a suit would be tossed too fast https://t.co/rthz91c7uF
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) October 13, 2016
By the time discovery happens, the election will be long over. https://t.co/J00yZdYOS6
— Lois Romano (@loisromano) October 13, 2016
Doesn’t Trump have an election coming up to worry about? Really soon?
NYT probably doesn't flinch at the idea of a Trump lawsuit. But it could send chills through smaller news outlets pursuing similar stories.
— Matt Pearce ? (@mattdpearce) October 13, 2016
Point of this, obviously, is to make other potential accusers think twice. Suit will be dropped after election https://t.co/CqR3N7xEiC
— Allahpundit (@allahpundit) October 13, 2016
Should Trump pursue legal action against the Times and how many other publications? Maybe that really is his priority at this point.
https://twitter.com/hrana/status/786404433106042880
What about the other women?
-make that group *five* women now
-and also looking at a group of girls and joking he’d be dating them in ten years https://t.co/LJkPvtHskm— Hunter Schwarz (@hunterschwarz) October 13, 2016
6 women accuse #Trump w sexual advances
•Temple Taggart
•Cassandra Searles
•Natasha Stoynof
•Jessica Leeds
•Rachel Crooks
•Mindy McGillivray— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) October 13, 2016
Odds on there being a third debate?
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) October 13, 2016
* * *
Update:
The Trump campaign has sent a letter to the New York Times demanding it retract the article and issue an apology, which almost certainly isn’t going to happen.
https://twitter.com/mckaycoppins/status/786422653988896768
Lawyer sounds tough, but doesn't seem to have expertise in libel law https://t.co/EccRymbXae https://t.co/VAnY21m0Oi
— Jamie Weinstein (@Jamie_Weinstein) October 13, 2016
@Bencjacobs nor does it have basic support for recklessness allegation. This is lamest retraction letter I've ever seen.
— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) October 13, 2016