U.S. President Donald Trump has sued the Wall Street Journal and its owners including Rupert Murdoch for at least $10 billion, over the report that his name was on a 2003 birthday greeting for Jeffrey Epstein that included a sexually suggestive drawing and a reference to secrets they shared.

Washington

Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit seeking at least $10 billion in damages against The Wall Street Journal, its parent companies, and several executives and reporters. The suit alleges defamation over a report that claimed Trump sent a 2003 birthday greeting to Jeffrey Epstein, which included a sexually suggestive drawing and references to shared secrets. Trump has denied the report, and Reuters has not independently verified its claims. The Wall Street Journal's parent company, Dow Jones, has expressed confidence in the accuracy of its reporting and stated it will vigorously defend against the lawsuit.

The lawsuit, filed in Miami, asserts that the report caused Trump significant financial and reputational harm. The case also highlights ongoing public interest in Epstein, whose death in 2019 has fueled conspiracy theories, particularly among Trump supporters. Trump maintains he ended his association with Epstein prior to the financier's legal troubles becoming public.

Trump sues Wall Street Journal $10 billion over Epstein report

Donald Trump sued The Wall Street Journal and its owners, including Rupert Murdoch, for at least $10 billion on Friday. It's over the newspaper's report that his name was on a 2003 birthday greeting for Jeffrey Epstein and included a sexually suggestive drawing and a reference to secrets they shared. The US president has vehemently denied the journal report, which Reuters has not verified. The lawsuit, filed in Miami, names Murdoch, Dow Jones, News Corp and its chief executive, Robert Thompson, as well as two Wall Street Journal reporters as defendants. It says they defamed Trump and caused him to suffer overwhelming financial and reputational harm. Epstein, the disgraced financier and sex offender, died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019. His case has generated conspiracy theories that became popular among Trump's base of supporters. They believe the government was covering up Epstein's ties to the rich and powerful. Trump has said he parted ways with Epstein before the financier's legal troubles became public in 2006. The newspaper's parent, Dow Jones, said in a statement, quote, We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit. The lawsuit called Trump's alleged birthday greeting fake. A $10 billion award would far exceed the largest defamation judgments and settlements in recent history.

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Breakdown