Trump’s Lawsuit Against Pulitzer Prize Board Members Gains Traction After Judge Denies Stay Request

Former President Donald Trump secured another legal win in his feud against the Pulitzer Prize Board after a Florida judge denied the board’s request for a temporary stay in the ongoing defamation lawsuit.

The lawsuit stems from the Pulitzer Board’s decision to award the 2018 National Reporting prizes to The New York Times and The Washington Post for their coverage of alleged collusion between Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russia—a narrative Trump has repeatedly called a “now-debunked theory.”

Judge Robert L. Pegg of Okeechobee County’s 19th Judicial Circuit Court rejected the board members’ plea for a stay, which they argued was necessary to avoid interfering with Trump’s duties while he served as president. In his ruling, Pegg stated that such concerns were unfounded.

“Plaintiff’s arguments are well taken,” Pegg remarked. “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 also made it clear that defendants could seek sanctions or a renewed stay if Trump failed to meet his obligations under the law.

Trump’s legal team celebrated the ruling, with attorney Quincy Bird declaring, “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.” Bird added that Trump remains committed to holding media entities accountable for what he calls “fake news.”

The Pulitzer Board, however, pushed back, describing the lawsuit as troubling. “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 board said in a statement.

Trump’s lawsuit alleges that the Pulitzer-winning stories were based on a “demonstrably false connection” and that the awards reinforced public misunderstandings about the Russia collusion narrative. The complaint also lists findings from Special Counsel Robert Mueller and a DOJ Inspector General Report as evidence that the reporting was flawed.

The Pulitzer Board has stood by its 2018 decision, stating that it follows a formal review process for complaints about winning entries. Despite inquiries, including those from Trump, the board determined that the awards were merited.

Notably, this case is just one of many legal battles Trump currently faces, with his Senior Counsel Boris Epshteyn coordinating efforts on multiple fronts. The defamation lawsuit, however, has now moved into the discovery phase, bringing Trump closer to the evidence he hopes to use to support his claims.