US Justice Division recordsdata a movement in Manhattan federal courtroom to unseal grand jury transcripts within the Epstein circumstances.
United States President Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit in opposition to The Wall Road Journal publication and its homeowners, together with media magnate Rupert Murdoch, searching for no less than $10bn in damages over the publication of a bombshell report on the president’s friendship with the notorious high-society intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump filed the lawsuit in federal courtroom within the Southern District of Florida on Friday, as he makes an attempt to forestall a rising scandal across the Epstein case from spreading additional and threatening to trigger him critical political injury.
Trump additionally instructed the US Justice Division to file a movement in Manhattan federal courtroom to unseal grand jury transcripts within the Epstein case and that of his former affiliate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who in 2021 was convicted of 5 federal prices associated to her position in Epstein’s sexual abuse of underage ladies.
Within the defamation lawsuit, Trump accuses Dow Jones, Information Corp, Murdoch and two Wall Road Journal reporters of performing with malicious intent that prompted him overwhelming monetary and reputational hurt. Dow Jones, the mother or father firm of the newspaper, is a division of Information Corp.
Earlier than submitting the case, Trump wrote on Friday morning on his social media platform Reality Social: “I sit up for getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in my lawsuit in opposition to him and his ‘pile of rubbish’ newspaper, the WSJ. That shall be an fascinating expertise!!!”
Representatives of Dow Jones, Information Corp and Murdoch have but to touch upon the case.
Trump as soon as thought-about Epstein a buddy, and the controversy surrounding the now deceased high-profile determine, who took his personal life in jail, has prompted conspiracy theories, particularly among the many far-right supporters of the US president.
Trump supporters had been enraged final week when US Legal professional Normal Pam Bondi reversed course on the president’s election marketing campaign pledge to launch courtroom paperwork that some believed contained damning revelations about Epstein and his alleged elite clientele.
Trump denies penning lewd Epstein birthday message
On Thursday, the Wall Road Journal reported that a letter bearing Trump’s signature was sent to Epstein for considered one of his birthday celebrations.
The newspaper mentioned the letter contained a lewd handwritten reference to a lady, with the message: “Joyful Birthday – and will daily be one other great secret,” and featured the signature “Donald”.
Following publication, Trump denied sending the letter to Epstein and lashed out on the newspaper.
Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019. Many amongst Trump’s base of supporters imagine the federal government is protecting up Epstein’s ties to the wealthy and highly effective, and a few don’t imagine he died by his personal hand.
A Justice Division memo launched on July 7 concluded that Epstein killed himself and mentioned there was “no incriminating consumer listing” or proof that Epstein blackmailed outstanding folks.
Nonetheless, Bondi, the US lawyer common, had pledged months in the past to launch main revelations about Epstein, together with “loads of names” and “loads of flight logs”, earlier than reversing course. On Friday, Bondi’s Deputy Legal professional Normal Todd Blanche mentioned public curiosity within the Epstein case had prompted the Justice Division to file a request with the courtroom to unseal transcripts of the case.
Trump, who was photographed with Epstein a number of instances in social settings within the Nineties and early 2000s, advised reporters in 2019 that he ended his relationship with Epstein earlier than his authorized troubles turned obvious.