Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Story, Demands $10 Billion in Damages
U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch, days after the newspaper published a story about his ties to financier Jeffrey Epstein. The lawsuit comes as the Justice Department has asked a federal court to unseal grand jury transcripts in Epstein's sex-trafficking case. Trump denies writing a sexually suggestive letter that was published by the Journal, which he claims is "false, malicious, and defamatory."
Key Takeaways:
- The lawsuit filed by Trump against The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch seeks $10 billion in damages.
- The story published by the Journal described a sexually suggestive letter that bore Trump's name and was included in a 2003 album compiled for Epstein's 50th birthday.
- Trump denies writing the letter, calling the story "false, malicious, and defamatory."
- The letter was reportedly collected by disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell as part of a birthday album for Epstein years before he was first arrested in 2006.
- Trump claims he spoke to Murdoch and the Journal's top editor, Emma Tucker, before the story was published and told them the letter was "fake."
- The suit was filed in federal court in Miami.
- Earlier Friday, the Justice Department asked a federal court to unseal grand jury transcripts in Epstein's sex-trafficking case as well as those in the case against Maxwell.
Statistics:
- $10 billion: the amount Trump is seeking in damages in the lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch.
- 2003: the year in which the birthday album for Epstein's 50th birthday was compiled.
- 2006: the year in which Epstein was first arrested.
- 2019: the year in which Epstein killed himself while awaiting trial.
Sources:
- [Associated Press, "Trump sues Wall Street Journal over Epstein story", undated]
- [Wall Street Journal, "Trump Denies Writing Suggestive Letter to Jeffrey Epstein", dated [no date provided]]