Judge denies Pulitzer board’s request to pause Trump lawsuit during presidency

A Florida judge Monday denied the Pulitzer Prize Board’s request to pause President Trump’s defamation lawsuit while he is in the White House, an argument Trump’s lawyers themselves have made in other cases. 

Senior Circuit Judge Robert Pegg noted Trump’s position that a pause is his prerogative to request, saying the case will move ahead but the board can renew its motion if Trump fails to meet future court deadlines. 

“Plaintiff’s arguments are well taken. Should the duties of the President interfere with his ability to perform his obligations in this action, he is certainly entitled to seek the appropriate relief,” the judge wrote.  

“Should he not do so, yet not comply with the rules of this court, defendants may apply for the appropriate sanctions as they would against any other plaintiff,” he continued. 

Trump sued the Pulitzer board in late 2022 for defamation over a statement the group made defending its awards for stories about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.  

The statement marked the end of the board’s independent review of the awards, which was requested by Trump and others. The statement concluded none of the winning stories were “discredited.”

Shortly after Trump assumed office in January, the board requested the case be paused, noting the president and his company had made similar arguments in other cases where they are the defendant. 

“Allowing any president to pursue civil claims against private citizens in state court while simultaneously claiming that private citizens cannot pursue civil claims against him in the same exact court is extremely troubling and should raise concerns for all Americans. The Pulitzer Board is evaluating next steps and remains committed to continuing our defense of journalism,” a spokesperson for the board said in a statement. 

The case is one of multiple defamation lawsuits Trump has brought against his perceived enemies in the media. ABC settled with the president for $15 million in one case in December, and Trump’s lawsuit against CBS over its “60 Minutes” interview of former Vice President Kamala Harris is still proceeding, even after reports emerged of settlement talks. 

“This latest ruling is an unequivocal victory for President Donald J. Trump in his pursuit of justice against the Pulitzer Prize board members for their dishonest and defamatory conduct,” Quincy Bird, Trump’s attorney, said in a statement. “President Trump is committed to holding those who traffic in fake news, lies and smears to account and he looks forward to seeing his powerful cases through to a just conclusion.”

Updated at 10:18 a.m. EDT