US President Donald Trump sues Murdoch and WSJ over Epstein report | Photo Credit: AP
The defamation lawsuit, filed in federal courtroom in Miami, noticed Mr. Trump attempting to hit again at a scandal threatening to trigger severe political harm. It seeks a minimum of $10 billion in damages.
The 79-year-old Republican had vowed to sue “the ass off” Murdoch and his newspaper after it reported that in 2003 the then-real property magnate wrote a suggestive birthday letter to Epstein, illustrated with a unadorned girl and referring to their shared “secret.”
In one other bid to dampen outrage amongst his personal supporters about an alleged authorities cover-up of Epstein’s actions and 2019 loss of life, Mr. Trump ordered his legal professional basic, Pam Bondi, to hunt the unsealing of grand jury testimony from the prosecution in opposition to the disgraced financier.
In a submitting in New York, Ms. Bondi cited “extensive public interest” for the weird request to launch what is often secret testimony.
Epstein, a longtime pal of Mr. Trump and a number of high-profile males, was discovered hanging useless in a New York jail cell whereas awaiting trial on fees that he sexually exploited dozens of underage women at his houses in New York and Florida.
The case sparked conspiracy theories, particularly amongst Mr. Trump’s far-right voters, about an alleged worldwide cabal of rich pedophiles. Epstein’s loss of life — declared a suicide — earlier than he might face trial supercharged the narrative.
When Mr. Trump returned to energy for a second time period this January, his supporters clamored for revelations about Epstein’s supposed record of shoppers. But Ms. Bondi issued an official memo in July declaring there was no such record.
The discontent in Mr. Trump’s “Make America Great Again” base poses a uncommon problem to the Republican’s management of the political narrative within the United States.
It remained unclear whether or not a courtroom would authorize the unsealing of the grand jury testimony.
But even when such materials had been made public, it was additionally unclear whether or not it might shed a lot, if any, gentle on the primary questions raised within the conspiracy theories — notably the existence and potential contents of an Epstein consumer record.
Asked on Friday by reporters if he would pursue the broader launch of knowledge associated to the case, Mr. Trump didn’t reply.
Naked girl and signature
Mr. Trump was for years shut with Epstein and the 2 had been photographed and videoed collectively at events, though there has by no means been proof of wrongdoing.
The Wall Street Journal article revealed late on Thursday was damaging as a result of it indicated a shared curiosity in intercourse.
The Journal reported that Mr. Trump had wished Epstein a cheerful fiftieth birthday in 2003 with a letter that includes a hand-drawn bare girl and referring to their “secrets.” The letter was reportedly amongst a slew of well-wishes from different wealthy and well-known figures for a birthday album.
A livid Mr. Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that the purported letter was a “Scam” and “Fake.”
Mr. Trump additionally stated that the Journal’s chief editor, Emma Tucker, had been instructed the letter was pretend and that she should not publish it.
Mr. Trump reacted in a collection of livid social media posts, saying “it’s not my language. It’s not my words.”
“I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women,” he stated.
U.S. media has revealed a number of drawings accomplished by Mr. Trump previously, with a number of courting to the early 2000s when he used his celeb standing to donate sketches for charity.
Published – July 19, 2025 04:29 am IST
