Former U.S. President Donald Trump has been ordered to pay over £626,000 (approximately $821,500) in legal fees to Orbis Business Intelligence (OBI), a private investigations firm he sued over the controversial Steele dossier.
A London judge ruled on Thursday that Trump must cover Orbis’ legal costs after his data protection lawsuit against the firm was dismissed last year. The lawsuit challenged allegations made in a dossier compiled by Orbis’ co-founder, Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence officer.
Background on the Steele Dossier
The Steele dossier, which surfaced during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, alleged ties between Trump’s campaign and Russia, along with other unverified claims—allegations that Trump has vehemently denied.
Trump was initially ordered to pay around £290,000 toward Orbis’ legal fees but failed to comply, leading to further proceedings. As a result, he was barred from having legal representation at a recent hearing to assess the firm’s total legal costs.
Legal Battle and Cost Dispute
During the hearing, Paul Arter, a costs lawyer for Orbis, argued that Trump—known for his aggressive litigation tactics—was willing to pay his own lawyers £750 per hour while disputing Orbis’ legal fees.
Judge Jason Rowley ruled that Trump owed Orbis £530,615, lower than the firm’s initial request of over £680,000 but higher than the £452,000 Orbis was willing to accept. Additionally, the judge ordered Trump to pay £95,000 in extra costs related to the dispute, bringing the total to £626,000.
The ruling marks another legal setback for Trump, who has faced mounting legal battles both in the U.S. and abroad.
