Trump wants ‘vindication’ over ‘perverted’ Russian sex party allegations
Donald Trump is seeking ‘vindication’ over allegations he took part in ‘sex parties’ and made bribes to Russian officials, the High Court has been told.
The former US president, 77, is bringing a data protection claim against Orbis Business Intelligence – founded by former MI6 officer Christopher Steele – and is seeking compensation for distress.
Mr Steele, who previously ran MI6’s Russia desk, wrote the so-called Steele dossier which alleged Trump had been ‘compromised’ by the FSB, the Russian security service.
The dossier also alleges he took part in ‘sex parties’ while in St Petersburg and took part in ‘golden showers’ with prostitutes in Moscow.
Hugh Tomlinson KC, for Trump, described the allegations as ‘egregiously inaccurate’ at the High Court today, and said he wishes to give evidence to prove they are false.
He said the ‘now notorious Steele dossier contained shocking and scandalous claims about the personal conduct of President Trump’, and also alleged he paid bribes to Russian officials to further his business interests.
Trump has refuted all claims made in the dossier.
Mr Tomlinson said Orbis is accused of unlawfully processing Trump’s personal data, causing ‘serious distress and reputational damage’.
Describing Trump as a ‘controversial figure’, he added: ‘President Trump begins this case because he seeks a vindication of his legal rights… that the statements in these memoranda are false.
‘He often expresses himself in very strong language… his interactions with the US legal system have been many and varies.
‘None of this is relevant to the question of whether the personal data in question is accurate.’
The court heard Trump accepts Orbis is not responsible for the publication of the dossier, which was leaked to and published by Buzzfeed.
Lawyers for Orbis asked for Mr Trump’s claim to be thrown out, telling the court it was ‘brought for the purpose of harassing Orbis and Mr Steele and pursuing longstanding grievances’.
Antony White KC, for the consultancy, said the case ‘has no realistic prospect of success’ and has been brought too late, describing the case as a ‘vendetta’ against Orbis and Mr Steele.
He added: ‘The claim for compensation is principally based on reputational damage allegedly suffered by the claimant.
‘This claim is bound to fail on limitation grounds and because any reputational damage, and any resulting distress, allegedly suffered will have been caused by the BuzzFeed publication, for which the claimant accepts Orbis is not liable.’
The hearing before Mrs Justice Steyn is set to conclude on Tuesday, with a decision expected at a later date.
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