President Donald Trump has formally requested a federal court to expedite the deposition of Rupert Murdoch in a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing the media mogul’s advanced age and alleged health complications. In legal filings submitted Monday, Trump’s attorneys argued that the 94-year-old Murdoch’s potential unavailability at trial necessitates a prompt deposition.
Murdoch, whose News Corp owns the Wall Street Journal, is at the center of Trump’s case stemming from a July 17 article that alleged the president authored a sexually suggestive birthday letter to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. Trump has forcefully denied the claims, insisting the letter is fabricated and asserting that he informed Murdoch of this prior to the article’s publication.
The Letter at the Center of the Dispute
According to the Wall Street Journal, the contested letter bore Trump’s name and featured a typewritten message inside the hand-drawn outline of a nude woman. The note, written in the third person as an imagined exchange between Trump and Epstein, reportedly included a jesting line that “enigmas never age” and ended with: “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump denounced the letter’s authenticity in a public post shortly after the article’s release, declaring: “These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures.” He maintains that the entire correspondence is a hoax designed to damage his character and credibility.
Lawsuit Claims Intent to Damage President Trump’s Reputation
In the lawsuit filed in a Miami federal court, Trump accused the Wall Street Journal of “knowingly publishing false and defamatory content” to deliberately injure his reputation. The $10 billion suit characterizes the article as a politically motivated hit piece, particularly damaging given its ties to the explosive Epstein controversy.
Dow Jones, the publisher of the Wall Street Journal, has defended the story, asserting that it was “reported responsibly and accurately.” The company has expressed confidence in prevailing in court, stating it “intends to vigorously defend the publication and its journalists.”
Murdoch’s Age and Health Cited as Key Factors
Trump’s legal team stressed that Murdoch’s advanced age and reported health issues demand urgency in securing his deposition. “Mr. Murdoch is 94 years old and is believed to have suffered recent significant health scares,” the filing noted. “Taken together, these factors weigh heavily in determining that Murdoch would be unavailable for in-person testimony at trial.”
U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles, who is overseeing the case, has ordered Murdoch to respond to Trump’s deposition request by August 4. The court has not yet ruled on whether to compel Murdoch to testify early.
Epstein Ties Continue to Haunt Political Arena
The lawsuit arrives as scrutiny over connections to Epstein continues to ripple through American politics. The Wall Street Journal article also claimed Trump’s name appeared in documents from the Department of Justice listing individuals linked to Epstein’s vast social network.
Trump has dismissed the report as a political smear, alleging without evidence that his name was “planted” in the files by former Attorney General Merrick Garland or ex-FBI Director James Comey. Neither Garland nor Comey has responded to the president’s accusations.
Trump’s previous association with Epstein, once a fixture in elite social circles, has long been a source of speculation. Trump insists their relationship ended in 2004 and that he had “nothing to do” with Epstein’s subsequent criminal activities. Epstein died in federal custody in 2019, awaiting trial on charges related to sex trafficking of minors.
A Legal Battle With Political Implications
Legal analysts say Donald’s aggressive posture in the case could have wide-reaching implications, both for press freedom and for how courts handle media litigation involving sitting presidents. The outcome may also influence broader public perception of Donald’s past associations as the 2024 presidential race continues.
While the deposition request is framed around Murdoch’s health, observers suggest the move may also be strategic. A swift deposition could force Murdoch and News Corp to take a legal stance earlier than anticipated, potentially influencing the trajectory of Trump’s broader legal and political battles.
