Trump calls for immediate testimony of 94-year-old Murdoch in Epstein defamation court case - Trump Pushes for Rapid Testimony of 94-year-old Murdoch in the Epstein Defamation Court Case.
In a surprising turn of events, Donald Trump's legal team has requested that media mogul Rupert Murdoch, aged 94, provides swift testimony within 15 days in the defamation trial against him. The trial, taking place in Miami, Florida, revolves around allegations that Murdoch's media outlet, the Wall Street Journal, published a story attributing a racy birthday greeting to Trump and sent to Jeffrey Epstein, despite being warned that the story was fabricated.
The connection to the Epstein case lies in the content of the allegedly defamatory story. It involves a purported birthday greeting from Trump to Epstein, which Trump denies and classifies as fabricated. Trump claims his warning about the falsity of this story to Murdoch was ignored. The litigation thus centers on whether Murdoch's media companies acted with actual malice in publishing the story implying a personal communications link between Trump and Epstein.
The request for speedy testimony from Murdoch, who resides in New York, is due to concerns about his advanced age and potential health issues, which could prevent future testimony. Trump's lawyers argue that securing Murdoch's testimony now is crucial to ensure a complete and accurate account of the events leading up to the publication of the disputed story.
This escalating lawsuit also reflects the deterioration of the long-standing relationship between Trump and Murdoch, now strained amidst accusations of “fake news” and critical coverage. Trump is seeking at least $10 billion (around $8.6 billion) in damages, and many of his supporters are outraged that his administration has not shed light on the Epstein scandal. In response, Trump has announced the disclosure of legal documents in the case to appease his disappointed supporters.
District Judge Darrin Gayles has given Murdoch's lawyers until August 4 to respond to the request for testimony. However, it is assumed that Murdoch will not appear in person for a court statement, as the court trial is not expected to involve a personal court statement from him. The trial is set to continue in Miami, with the outcome potentially shaping the future of media and politics in the United States.
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- The defamation trial involving Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch in Miami, Florida, encompasses topics such as politics, crime-and-justice, and general-news, given its link to Jeffrey Epstein and the alleged fabricated story published by Murdoch's media outlet, The Wall Street Journal.
- Amidst the Epstein case, war-and-conflicts, and ongoing political schisms, Trump's legal team is seeking a quick statement from 94-year-old Murdoch in New York, who resides there, regarding the disputed story about Trump's birthday greeting to Epstein. This instance serves as another example of the strained relationship between the two, aggravated by accusations of "fake news" and critical coverage.