Trump sues Rupert Murdoch, WSJ for US$10 billion over Epstein report
The US government has also asked a court to unseal grand jury transcripts in the criminal case against the disgraced financier
US President Donald Trump sued media magnate Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal on Friday for at least US$10 billion over the publication of a bombshell report on his friendship with the infamous alleged sex trafficker of underage girls, Jeffrey Epstein.
The lawsuit filed in Miami federal court names Murdoch, Dow Jones, News Corp and its CEO Robert Thomson, and two Journal reporters as defendants, saying they defamed Trump and caused him to suffer “overwhelming” financial and reputational harm.
The lawsuit comes after the Journal reported on a 50th birthday greeting to Epstein that Trump allegedly sent in 2003 that included a sexually suggestive drawing and a reference to secrets they shared.
Trump vehemently denied the Journal report, which Reuters has not verified.
“I hope Rupert and his ‘friends’ are looking forward to the many hours of depositions and testimonies they will have to provide in this case,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
With pressure to release the Epstein files building, Trump on Thursday said he had directed US Attorney General Pam Bondi to ask a court to release grand jury testimony about Epstein.