Former President Donald Trump has filed a libel lawsuit against several high-profile media figures and organizations, including Dow Jones, News Corp, and Rupert Murdoch. The lawsuit, which was revealed through court documents, was submitted in a federal court in Miami.
The lawsuit stems from a Wall Street Journal article that claimed Trump wrote a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. This letter allegedly contained a sketch of a naked woman. The article suggested that the letter was part of a birthday book for Epstein, a convicted sex offender. However, the Wall Street Journal did not provide an image of this letter, which has raised questions about its authenticity.
Trump responded strongly to the article, labeling it a "fake" story. He stated that he had warned the Wall Street Journal and Murdoch that the letter was not real and that they would face legal action if they published it. In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed his frustration, saying that Murdoch had assured him the matter would be addressed but apparently failed to do so.
The lawsuit includes claims of libel, assault, and slander. Trump has maintained that while he and Epstein were acquaintances in the past, he was not involved in any of Epstein’s criminal activities. Their friendship reportedly ended in 2004 after Trump expelled Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club.
This legal action highlights the ongoing tensions between Trump and the media, as well as the broader implications of how public figures are portrayed in the press. As the case unfolds, it will be interesting to see how both sides present their arguments and what evidence is brought to light regarding the alleged letter.