Washington, July 19 (HS): President Trump has initiated a libel lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal’s publisher, Rupert Murdoch, seeking $10 billion in damages. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of Florida, centers on a story alleging Trump sent a bawdy birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein around 2003, which purportedly included Trump’s signature and an obscene drawing. Trump has vehemently denied the allegations, labeling the letter fake and asserting that the Journal’s claims are false, defamatory, unsubstantiated, and disparaging, while criticizing the publication for clear journalistic failures.
In addition to Murdoch, the lawsuit names Dow Jones & Company and its CEO Robert Thomson, as well as journalists Joseph Palazzolo and Khadeeja Safdar, who authored the Epstein article. Trump described this lawsuit as a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit and expressed excitement about testifying in the case. In contrast, a Dow Jones spokesperson defended the accuracy of their reporting and stated they will vigorously counter the lawsuit.
Defamation lawsuits face a significant challenge, especially for public figures, requiring proof of false claims and actual malice, which indicates knowledge of the truth or reckless disregard for it. The White House has yet to respond to this lawsuit.
Simultaneously, Trump has directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the unsealing of grand jury testimony related to Epstein, whose death in 2019 while under federal charges remains a subject of widespread scrutiny. Recent Justice Department and FBI announcements indicated Epstein lacked an incriminating client list or efforts to blackmail individuals. This information has received backlash from various political factions, even within Trump’s own support base.
Trump’s legal action follows a history of conflicts with media figures, where he has sought to silence or pressure outlets through various means. The backdrop of the lawsuit involves Epstein’s notorious past and connections with influential individuals, his subsequent arrest for sex trafficking, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death, officially ruled a suicide.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
