By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Hon. Darrin Gayles
Darrin Gayles became the first out gay Black federal judge in 2014 after he was nominated by Barack Obama.
Donald Trump's lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal has been assigned a judge — and it's not who he was hoping for.
U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles will be overseeing the president's defamation suit against the publication, which he filed over its report that he sent Jeffrey Epstein a raunchy birthday card. Though he's known for his bipartisan tendencies, Gayles isn't likely to let Trump off the hook like another judge in the area.
Here's everything to know about Gayles, and the case facing him.
Darrin Gayles is a graduate of Howard University and the George Washington University School of Law, and the first out gay Black man to be appointed as a federal judge. He was nominated in 2014 by former president Barack Obama, and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Gayles' history of bipartisan rulings has earned him support among Democrats and Republicans alike. He was previously appointed to state courts in Florida by two GOP governors, Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist.
Gayles previously presided over Trump's 2023 lawsuit against his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, in which Trump accused Cohen of breaking attorney-client privileges and demanded $500 million in damages. Trump dropped the lawsuit just six months after filing, right before he was scheduled to be questioned by Cohen's lawyers under oath.
Gayles' other cases include a $73 million judgment against the government of Venezuela in 2022 for the murder of politician and lawyer Fernando Alberto Albán Salazar, and a dissenting opinion in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals' decision upholding Alabama's voter identification law.
Trump filed a lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, as well as parent company News Corp and owner Rupert Murdoch — who also owns Fox News — after the newspaper published an article revealing a letter he allegedly wrote for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003.
The lawsuit seeks more than $20 billion in damages for defamation. Trump filed the case in southern Florida, likely hoping to land U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, an appointee of his who previously dismissed federal criminal charges against him over his mishandling of classified documents.
Trump's alleged "bawdy" letter to Epstein includes a hand-drawn sketch of a naked woman with Trump’s signature placed along her pubic area to mimic hair. The note says that the two share “certain things in common,” with Trump wishing Epstein “another wonderful secret,” according to WSJ.
The card features an imaginary conversation between the two men written in third person, the outlet reported. It reads as such:
“Voice Over: There must be more to life than having everything,” the note began.
Donald: Yes, there is, but I won’t tell you what it is.
Jeffrey: Nor will I, since I also know what it is.
Donald: We have certain things in common, Jeffrey.
Jeffrey: Yes, we do, come to think of it.
Donald: Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?
Jeffrey: As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you.
Trump: A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret."
Trump called the story “fake,” “defamatory,” and a “hoax" in a post to Truth Social. He also vowed to “sue his ass off,” referring to Murdoch.
Charlie Kirk DID say stoning gay people was the 'perfect law' — and these other heinous quotes