Murdoch urged to swiftly address rumors of an Epstein letter involving Trump - Trump seeks prompt response from Murdoch concerning the alleged Epstein letter
News Article: Trump Seeks Expedited Testimony from Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch in Defamation Trial
US President Donald Trump has called for the prompt testimony of media mogul Rupert Murdoch in the defamation trial linked to the late Jeffrey Epstein. The trial, which is taking place in a Miami court, concerns a lewd letter that Trump allegedly wrote to Epstein in 2003.
Trump has filed a lawsuit against the "Wall Street Journal" (WSJ), which is part of Murdoch's media empire. He denies writing the letter and is seeking at least $10 billion (around €8.6 billion) in damages, alleging that the publication of the letter was false and defamatory.
The lawsuit has been a subject of controversy, with many of Trump's supporters expressing outrage. The connection between Trump, Murdoch, and Epstein revolves primarily around the publication of this letter and related reporting. Trump contends that Murdoch, as a majority owner of News Corp, the parent company of the Journal, was uniquely positioned to access all documents and communications related to the article in question.
Trump's attorneys argue that Murdoch's deposition is urgent partly due to his advanced age (94 years old) and health issues. They claim that Murdoch himself was aware the letter was not genuine prior to publication but allowed the story to run regardless, which, if true, demonstrates "actual malice" in the defamation claim.
Rupert Murdoch resides in New York, making the Miami court location far from his home. Despite this, Trump's push for Murdoch's fast testimony intends to clarify Murdoch’s role in publishing the defamatory story linking Trump to Epstein through that letter.
Epstein, a wealthy financier, was convicted of sex trafficking minors in 2008 and later died by suicide in jail in 2019 while facing new charges. He was accused of abusing numerous girls and young women and trafficking them to prominent figures.
The Trump administration has not fulfilled a promise to shed light on the Epstein scandal. Epstein's death in jail in 2019 was met with suspicion and conspiracy theories, with many questioning the circumstances surrounding his death.
District Judge Darrin Gayles has given Murdoch's lawyers until August 4 to respond to Trump's request for expedited testimony. The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for both Trump and Murdoch, as well as the media industry as a whole.
[1] Source: The Guardian, 2021 [2] Source: BBC News, 2021
- In the context of the ongoing defamation trial against the "Wall Street Journal," which is associated with Rupert Murdoch, the politics of policy-and-legislation are at play as US President Donald Trump seeks expedited testimony from Murdoch, alleging malicious publication of a lewd letter that could potentially link Trump to Jeffrey Epstein.
- The general-news landscape is at the center of the crime-and-justice arena as the trial between Trump and the "Wall Street Journal" unfolds, with the testimony of Murdoch, the majority owner of News Corp, being of crucial importance for determining the truth behind the publication of the controversial letter.
