Former U.S. President Donald Trump has initiated a lawsuit against Dow Jones, News Corp, Rupert Murdoch, and two reporters from The Wall Street Journal, citing claims under federal libel law, as revealed by court documents.
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Details of the complaint have not yet been made available; however, the lawsuit was filed in a federal court in Miami.
This action follows a report from The Wall Street Journal detailing a birthday greeting that Mr. Trump purportedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003. The message reportedly included a sexually suggestive drawing and references to shared secrets.
In response to the report, Mr. Trump strongly denied the claims and warned Rupert Murdoch, the founder of News Corp (the parent company of the Journal), about his intention to pursue legal action. “That will be an interesting experience!!!,” he stated on his Truth Social platform, emphasizing his confidence in his case.
It’s important to note that Jeffrey Epstein passed away in 2019 while incarcerated, facing charges of exploitation.
In parallel, the U.S. government has moved to unseal grand jury transcripts concerning Epstein’s case. The Justice Department filed a motion in Manhattan federal court, asserting that the criminal cases involving Epstein and his former associate Ghislaine Maxwell hold significant public interest. Thus, it seeks to release the associated grand jury transcripts. Attorney General Pam Bondi indicated that this action aims to address discontent among many of Mr. Trump’s staunch supporters, who perceive a potential cover-up from the White House.
Epstein’s untimely death in his New York jail cell in 2019—declared a suicide—occurred while he awaited trial on charges of sexually exploiting numerous minors at his residences in both New York and Florida. The circumstances surrounding his passing have led to various conspiracy theories, particularly among Mr. Trump’s far-right voter base, who speculate about a supposed international network of affluent pedophiles.
Since Mr. Trump’s return to political prominence of sorts, his followers have been eager for disclosures regarding Epstein’s alleged client list. However, Bondi released a memo in July stating that such a list does not exist.
The discontent within Mr. Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) base represents an unusual challenge to the 79-year-old Republican’s hold on America’s political narrative.
It remains uncertain whether a court will permit the release of typically confidential grand jury testimony. Even if these records are made public, it is unclear whether they would clarify any of the prevailing conspiracy theories, particularly regarding the existence and potential contents of an Epstein client list.
Mr. Trump had a long-standing association with Epstein, and there have been numerous photographs and videos of them together at various social events. Nevertheless, there has been no conclusive evidence of any wrongdoing on Mr. Trump’s part.
The article published by The Wall Street Journal indicated that Mr. Trump had wished Epstein a happy 50th birthday with a letter that allegedly included a crude drawing and referenced their “secrets.” This letter was part of a collection of birthday well-wishes from other affluent and notable individuals.
In a vehement response on Truth Social, Mr. Trump labeled the letter a “scam” and “fake.” He claimed that the Journal’s editor, Emma Tucker, was informed that the letter was fabricated and should not have been publicized.
The Journal’s report described the letter as featuring an outline of a nude woman, seemingly drawn with a marker, coupled with Mr. Trump’s signature. Notably, it concluded with a sentiment wishing Epstein a happy birthday and expressing hopes that “every day be another wonderful secret.”
Mr. Trump reiterated his denial through a series of passionate social media posts, stating: “It’s not my language. It’s not my words.” He added, “I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women.”
It is crucial to remember that allegations against Epstein regarding the sexual abuse of minors first surfaced in 2006, after the birthday book in question was compiled. He faced arrest that same year and eventually accepted a plea deal.
