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 and its reporters 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 written by Trump to Epstein in 2003. The letter allegedly included a suggestive drawing and a message reading, "Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret." Trump has vehemently denied writing the letter, calling the report "false, malicious, and defamatory." He stated, "These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures," and announced plans to sue the newspaper and Murdoch. A spokesperson for Dow Jones, the Journal's publisher, responded, "We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit."
In addition to the lawsuit, the Justice Department has filed a motion to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Epstein's case. This move aims to provide greater transparency amid public interest in the financier's associations. The release of these documents is subject to judicial approval and may be redacted to protect sensitive information.
The legal actions have intensified the debate over the relationship between Trump and Epstein, who was arrested in 2019 on charges of sex trafficking minors and died in custody later that year. Trump has previously stated that he had a "falling out" with Epstein before his legal troubles became apparent.
The outcome of the lawsuit and the potential release of grand jury transcripts are expected to have significant implications for public understanding of the connections between Trump and Epstein, as well as the broader discourse on media reporting and legal accountability.