A New York judge dismissed Tony Bobulinski’s $30 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News co-host Jessica Tarlov and ordered Bobulinski to pay Tarlov’s legal fees. The lawsuit stemmed from a statement Tarlov made on Fox’s The Five in January, suggesting that a Trump Super PAC had paid Bobulinski’s legal fees. Bobulinski’s lawyer demanded a retraction and an apology, which Tarlov later provided, clarifying that she had no indication that the Trump PAC payments were connected to Bobulinski’s legal fees. Bobulinski then sued for defamation, seeking damages and legal costs.

District Judge J. Paul Oetken ruled in favor of Tarlov, stating that Bobulinski’s claims failed to meet the legal standard for defamation and did not show harm to his business reputation. The judge also ruled that New York’s anti-SLAPP statute, designed to protect individuals from meritless lawsuits that chill free speech, applied in this case, ordering Bobulinski to cover Tarlov’s attorney fees. Fox News issued a statement praising the court’s decision, which marked a significant ruling on attorney fees under the anti-SLAPP law in federal court. The court’s decision affirmed that Tarlov’s statements were protected and that the case lacked merit.