The Supreme Court made a decision on Monday not to hear a case brought by billionaire Steve Wynn challenging longstanding press protections. Wynn had filed a lawsuit against The Associated Press in an attempt to overturn the landmark Supreme Court ruling in New York Times v. Sullivan. This ruling established a high legal standard for defamation against public figures, requiring proof of “actual malice” on the part of the media outlet.
Despite President Trump’s ongoing criticism of the media and calls for the closure of certain news organizations, the Supreme Court refused to reconsider the Sullivan case based on Wynn’s arguments. Wynn’s complaint stemmed from a 2018 article by an AP reporter detailing allegations of sexual abuse against him from the 1970s. Wynn has denied these accusations.
Justice Clarence Thomas has expressed concerns about the Sullivan ruling, suggesting that it allows news organizations to make false claims against public figures without consequences. However, the Supreme Court’s decision in Wynn’s case upholds the protections afforded to the press under the Sullivan precedent.
