Former U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, seeking at least $10 billion in damages. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Miami, accuses the newspaper of publishing false and defamatory statements regarding Trump's alleged ties to financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The controversy centers on a report by The Wall Street Journal that detailed a letter purportedly sent by Trump to Epstein in 2003. The letter allegedly contained suggestive content and was included in a birthday album for Epstein. Trump has vehemently denied writing the letter, calling the report "false, malicious, and defamatory." He has also threatened legal action against the publication and its owner, Rupert Murdoch.
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Dow Jones, the publisher of The Wall Street Journal, stated, "We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit." The newspaper has not provided further comments on the matter.
This legal action follows a series of developments related to Epstein. The U.S. Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, has filed a motion to unseal grand jury transcripts from the Epstein case, aiming to provide greater transparency amid public interest. Epstein, a financier with connections to numerous high-profile individuals, died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
The lawsuit and the associated legal proceedings have intensified public scrutiny of Trump's past associations and the handling of the Epstein case. The outcome of this legal battle may have significant implications for media reporting and the ongoing discourse surrounding Epstein's network and activities.