A High Court judge has dismissed a data protection claim made by former US President Donald Trump against Orbis Business Intelligence, a consultancy firm founded by former MI6 officer Christopher Steele. Trump had sought compensation for distress over allegations contained in the Steele dossier, which he denied. These allegations included claims of engaging in inappropriate sexual activities and giving bribes to Russian officials.
Orbis Business Intelligence came under legal scrutiny from Trump over two memos in the Steele dossier, alleging his participation in questionable activities in Russia. The legal action aimed to address claims of “perverted” sex acts in St Petersburg and involvement with prostitutes in Moscow, described within the dossier. Orbis, through its legal representation, requested the dismissal of Trump’s claim, arguing it served to harass the firm and Steele over long-standing grievances.
In her ruling, Mrs Justice Steyn cited the lack of compelling reasons to proceed to trial, noting the claim for compensation was bound to fail. She highlighted the impracticality of the claimant’s pursuit for court findings to vindicate his reputation, especially given the elapsed time since the dossier’s release in 2017 and the public availability of the memos.
The Steele dossier, which became a significant point of contention, was produced by Orbis ahead of the 2016 US election and later published by BuzzFeed. It contained various allegations against Trump, including derogatory claims about his actions in a hotel room previously used by Barack Obama. The judge noted that Orbis’ possession of the memos could not have caused Trump distress, particularly as the information was already accessible online.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Trump’s animosity towards Steele and Orbis was evident, with accusations of pursuing a vendetta against them. The case was described as an attempt to harass and bring frivolous claims against perceived adversaries.
