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A6 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 17 OcTOber 2023

Trump sues ex-British spy over dossier containing 'shocking and

scandalous claims'

By BRIAN MELLEY ly inaccurate," he said.
Associated Press Tomlinson said Trump plans
LONDON (AP) — A lawyer to vindicate himself in court
for Donald Trump told a by providing evidence that
London judge Monday the the report's claims were
ex-president plans to prove false.
that "shocking and scan- In a written witness state-
dalous claims" about him in ment, Trump said that de-
a largely discredited report spite Steele's assertions the
by a former British spy were allegations have not been
false and harmed his repu- disproven, they were "whol-
tation. ly untrue."
Trump has sued the com- Trump said he had not en-
pany founded by Chris- gaged in "perverted sexual
topher Steele, who cre- behavior including the hir-
ated a dossier in 2016 that ing of prostitutes ... in the
contained rumors and un- presidential suite of a hotel
corroborated allegations in Moscow," taken part in
about Trump that erupted "sex parties" in St. Peters-
in a political storm just be- burg, bribed Russian offi-
fore he was inaugurated. cials, or provided them with
Trump is seeking damages "sufficient material to black-
from Orbis Business Intelli- mail me." He also said he
gence for allegedly violat- had not bribed, coerced or
ing British data protection Christopher Steele , foreground right, leaves the Royal Courts of Justice after the first hearing in silenced witnesses.
laws. Donald Trump's High Court claim against the former MI6 officer's intelligence consultancy, in Orbis wants the lawsuit
Steele's firm is seeking to London. Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. thrown out because it said
have the case thrown out Associated Press the report was never meant
and a judge said she would to be made public and
rule at a later date after ing his net worth to secure criticism from judges in the salacious allegations that was published by BuzzFeed
hearing arguments in Lon- loans and make deals. He U.S. However, he said none Russians could potentially without the permission of
don's High Court. also faces four separate of that is relevant in the cur- blackmail Trump for sexual Steele or Orbis. It also said
The lawsuit comes as Trump criminal cases for allega- rent case. activity. Trump said the the claim was filed too late.
is the front-runner for the tions including mishandling Trump "suffered personal dossier was fake news and Orbis attorney Antony
2024 Republican presiden- classified documents, try- and reputational damage a political witch hunt. White said Trump has a
tial nomination while facing ing to overturn the results of and distress" because his Tomlinson said it "con- "deep and intense animus
legal problems on the other the 2020 election, and pay- data protection rights were tained shocking and scan- against" Steele and the firm
side of the Atlantic. ing hush money to a porn violated, attorney Hugh dalous claims about the and a "a long history of re-
Trump's lawyers are cur- actress to cover up an af- Tomlinson said. personal conduct of Presi- peatedly bringing frivolous,
rently fighting a civil fraud fair. Steele, who once ran the dent Trump" and included meritless and vexatious
trial in New York alleging he His lawyer noted in court Russia desk for the Secret allegations he paid bribes claims for the purpose of
and company executives Monday that Trump is a Intelligence Service, also to Russian officials to fur- vexing and harassing per-
deceived banks, insurers "controversial figure" who known as MI6, was paid ther his business interests. ceived enemies and others
and others by overvaluing "expresses himself in strong by Democrats to compile Trump's case "is that this against whom he bears a
his assets and exaggerat- language" and has faced research that included personal data is egregious- grudge."q

Venezuela and opposition to resume

talks in Barbados, mediator Norway says

the platform X. Mexico hosted drop economic sanctions and administration supports Ven-
multiple rounds of talks in 2021 unfreeze Venezuelan funds ezuelan-led negotiations and
and 2022. held overseas as a condition is prepared to provide relief
When they last met, in Novem- of resuming talks. from sanctions in response
ber 2022, the sides agreed Norway’s statement Monday to concrete actions toward
to create a U.N.-managed said that the two sides had de- holding competitive elections.
fund to finance health, food cided to resume the dialogue The dialogue formally be-
and education programs for “with the objective of reach- gan in September 2021, but
the poor while the U.S. gov- ing a political agreement.” President Maduro’s delegates
Venezuelan President of the National Assembly Jorge Rodriguez,
left, shakes hands with Venezuelan opposition delegate ernment agreed to allow Venezuela’s government did walked away from negotia-
Gerardo Blyde Perez in Mexico City, Aug. 13, 2021. oil giant Chevron to pump not immediately comment. tions in October 2021 after
Associated Press Venezuelan oil. A U.S. official who requested Colombia-born businessman
Colombia and other countries anonymity to discuss the sen- Alex Saab was extradited on
By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN mediated by Norway, with have tried in recent months to sitive negotiations said there money laundering charges
and FATIMA HUSSEIN talks scheduled for Tuesday restart negotiations between was no “deal” between the from Cape Verde to the
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Venezu- in Barbados, Norway’s em- the sides, but the government U.S. government and Ven- U.S. Maduro conditioned a
ela’s government and opposi- bassy in Mexico said Monday of President Nicolás Maduro ezuela. resumption on the release of
tion will resume their dialogue, in a brief statement posted to has demanded that the U.S. The official said the Biden Saab. q