Former U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing for an expedited deposition of Rupert Murdoch in his ongoing defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal. The lawsuit stems from a July 17 article that alleges Trump sent a sexually suggestive birthday message to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. Trump vehemently denies the authenticity of the letter, asserting that it was fabricated to tarnish his reputation.
Trump’s legal team claims that Murdoch’s involvement in the matter is significant, as the media mogul allegedly promised to “take care of it” during a prior conversation. The lawsuit accuses the Wall Street Journal of acting with “actual malice,” a legal term that refers to knowingly publishing false information or doing so with reckless disregard for its truth. In light of this, Trump is seeking damages of up to $10 billion.
U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles has ordered Murdoch to provide a response to the motion by August 4, intensifying the timeline for this high-profile case. The Wall Street Journal, owned by Murdoch’s News Corp, stands by its reporting, asserting it will vigorously defend against the lawsuit. To date, neither News Corp nor Murdoch have commented publicly on the matter.
This case has reignited public scrutiny of Trump’s past associations with Epstein, who died in 2019 while incarcerated on charges of sex trafficking minors. Trump has previously distanced himself from Epstein, stating they had a “falling out” long before Epstein’s legal troubles came to light.
Legal experts note that Trump faces a challenging path in proving defamation, particularly the element of “actual malice.” Public figures have a higher legal burden of proof in such cases, as they must show that the defamatory statements were made with knowledge of their falsity or in reckless disregard of the truth. The outcome of this case could set important precedents regarding media liability and the legal standards for defamation suits involving high-profile individuals.
