Judge Throws Out Truth Social's Defamation Lawsuit Against The Guardian

"The dispute arose from two articles published by the UK-based Guardian in March 2023 reporting on a federal criminal investigation related to TMTGs receipt of two payments totaling $8 million, Judge Hunter Carroll of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court for Sarasota County wrote in his order summarizing the case, including reports that federal prosecutors in New York were conducting a money laundering investigation related to the payments, which were wired through the Caribbean from Paxum Bank and ES Family Trust,"

"The Guardian article was cited by other media outlets, including an article in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. TMTG sued The Guardian, the Herald-Tribune, and the two reporters whose bylines were on the articles, arguing that the articles were false and defamatory, insisting that TMTG is not, and never was, under investigation for money laundering, and TMTG and its executives have not been the focus of any investigation."

Judge Hunter Carroll granted motions to dismiss brought by The Guardian and other defendants in a defamation suit by Truth Media & Technology Group Corp. (TMTG). The suit concerned reporting about a federal criminal investigation into TMTG's receipt of two payments totaling $8 million that were wired through the Caribbean from Paxum Bank and ES Family Trust. Reports alleged New York prosecutors were investigating money laundering tied to entities linked to an ally of Vladimir Putin and to banking services for the sex worker industry. TMTG denied any money‑laundering investigation and acknowledged public-figure status; the court found no actual malice and applied Florida's anti‑SLAPP statute.

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