Trump Files Lawsuit Against Rupert Murdoch Over Publication of Old Birthday Letter to Epstein
President Donald Trump has taken legal action against media mogul Rupert Murdoch, his companies Dow Jones and News Corp, and The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The lawsuit, filed on Truth Social, stems from a WSJ report about a "bawdy" birthday letter allegedly bearing Trump's name. Trump claims the letter is fake and the report defamatory.
The lawsuit seeks at least $20 billion in damages.
Key details of the lawsuit and recent developments include:
- The parties have agreed to pause Rupert Murdoch's deposition, originally scheduled soon after the lawsuit's filing, until after the WSJ files a motion to dismiss the case. This agreement suspends discovery until that motion is resolved.
- Trump’s lawyers expressed concern about Murdoch's health and advanced age (94 years old), which factored into the decision to postpone his deposition.
- If the court denies the WSJ’s motion to dismiss, Murdoch would then be required to appear for deposition within 30 days of that ruling.
- As part of the agreement, Murdoch must provide a sworn declaration on his current health status shortly after the court approves the deposition postponement, and he will give ongoing updates about his health.
The lawsuit emerged after the WSJ published a report last month, describing a letter connected to Jeffrey Epstein's birthday, which the Journal characterised as inappropriate and bearing Trump's signature. Among the Journal's findings was a letter from Trump to Epstein, which included a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman.
Trump has since stated that the letter is "fake." He also asserted that the letter was not written in his own words and that he does not draw pictures. These comments echo a pattern of using the legal system as a means of revenge on political adversaries, as seen in Trump's previous statements on Truth Social.
The lawsuit accuses News Corporation and the WSJ of engaging in "glaring failures in journalistic ethics and standards of accurate reporting." Trump expressed hope for Murdoch and his associates to provide depositions and testimonies in this case.
This lawsuit continues to take a dramatic turn in the ongoing story between Trump and Murdoch. The story published by the WSJ explored the relationship between Trump and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Trump's reputation previously included donating doodles, with one sketch selling at auction for thousands of dollars.
However, Trump has stated that the letter printed by the WSJ was not authentic, and he denies its contents. The lawsuit alleges that no authentic letter or drawing exists, as claimed by President Trump. The lawsuit continues to unfold, with the WSJ yet to file its motion to dismiss the case.
- The ongoing lawsuit filed by President Trump against Rupert Murdoch, Dow Jones, News Corp, and The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) encompasses not only the allegedly defamatory report about a "bawdy" birthday letter, but also accusations of "glaring failures in journalistic ethics and standards of accurate reporting."
- This court case, which seeks at least $20 billion in damages, has taken a turn in the realm of politics and policy-and-legislation, as Trump expressed hope for Murdoch and his associates to provide depositions and testimonies, potentially leading to broader discussions in general-news and crime-and-justice sectors.
