Donald Trump is facing a demand to hand over his medical records under a broad discovery request filed by members of the Pulitzer Prize Board.
The request, lodged in a Florida state court on December 11, seeks years of personal documents from the president, as well as his tax returns, within 30 days.
The documents being sought include medical and psychological records, information on any prescription medications Trump has taken, and details of his annual physical examinations, if he is claiming physical or emotional harm in his lawsuit.
Highlights
- The Pulitzer Prize Board demands Trump’s medical and psychological records, tax returns, and documents related to physical or emotional harm claims.
- Trump sued the Pulitzer Board over their refusal to rescind 2018 awards for reporting on Russian interference in the 2016 election.
- The board’s discovery requests seek detailed financial records and communications linked to Trump’s claims of reputational damage.
Donald Trump has been asked to hand over his medical records in discovery
Image credits: Alex Wong/Getty Images
The filing requested, “To the extent You [Trump] seek damages for any physical ailment or mental or emotional injury arising from Counts I-IV of Your Complaint, all Documents (whether held by You or by third parties under Your control or who could produce them at your direction) concerning Your medical and/or psychological health from January 1, 2015, to present, including any prescription medications you have been prescribed or have taken.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this includes all Documents Concerning Your annual physical examination. To the extent you do not seek such damages in this action, please confirm so in writing.”
The demands mark an unusual turn in litigation that began in December 2022, when Trump sued the Pulitzer Board and 19 of its members.
He alleged that a public statement defending the board’s decision to uphold 2018 Pulitzer Prizes for reporting on alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election was defamatory.
Trump’s complaint centers on the board’s refusal to rescind awards granted to journalists at The New York Times and The Washington Post for reporting on the investigation of Russia.
Image credits: Contributor/Getty Images
He has characterized the reporting, and the board’s defense of it, as a “false narrative” and damaging to his reputation.
In response, the defendants—a group that includes prominent journalists, academics, and media executives—have filed a first set of discovery requests that go far beyond the core dispute about the prizes themselves.
Alongside medical files, the board has asked for decade-long tax returns, records of financial holdings and income sources, communications about the Pulitzer awards, and all materials linked to Trump’s claims of reputational harm.
The board’s lawyers argue that if Trump is seeking damages for injury to his physical or mental health, or for reputational loss, the defendants are entitled to examine evidence that might underlie such claims.
The Pulitzer Board has defended its actions, stating that its original decision to uphold the 2018 awards followed independent reviews and that the journalism recognized continues to stand.
The board also emphasized that it will not be “cowed” by legal pressure and that standard discovery is a routine part of civil litigation to test the merits and damages claimed by a plaintiff.
In a statement to Fox News Digital last week, a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team commented on the case, saying, “President Trump is committed to holding those who traffic in fake news, lies, and smears to account, and he will see this powerhouse lawsuit through to a winning conclusion."
The request for Trump’s medical records comes amid intense scrutiny over his health
Image credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
“This case has always been about correcting the record, revealing the truth, and vindicating the president and his supporters against the lies told to the American people by the Democrats and their PR machine known as ‘legacy media.’”
The request for Trump’s medical records comes amid intense scrutiny over the president’s health, over a recent MRI scan and frequent bruising seen on his hand.
Earlier this month, the White House finally revealed that Trump had undergone a preventative MRI scan in October because of his age.
“This level of detailed assessment is standard for an executive physical at President Trump’s age and confirms that he remains in excellent overall health,” White House physician Sean Barbabella said in a memo.
Trump had previously told reporters he did not know why he had undergone the MRI and confirmed he had undertaken cognitive testing—claiming he received a perfect score.
While the results of the MRI scan have now been released, many have questioned whether the White House is being transparent over why Trump needed the scan.
As well as the bruising and recent tests, Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) earlier this year, which has caused his ankles to swell.