Trump's legal team is requesting a federal court to compel Rupert Murdoch to testify swiftly regarding a controversial article in the Wall Street Journal that alleged he wrote a compromising note to Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump Pushes for Urgent Testimony from Murdoch in Lawsuit Over Epstein Article
Trump Pushes for Urgent Testimony from Murdoch in Lawsuit Over Epstein Article
In a court filing, Trump's lawyers assert the need for a quick deposition due to Murdoch's age and health concerns.
Trump’s lawyers filed a motion in a Miami federal court urging for swift testimony from media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, citing the 94-year-old’s advanced age and health complications. This request comes as part of Trump’s ongoing $10 billion lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, which is owned by Murdoch's News Corp, accusing the publication of damaging his reputation through the dissemination of a "bawdy" letter he allegedly wrote to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003.
In the court documents submitted on Monday, Trump's legal team emphasized that Murdoch had previously been informed that the letter was "fake" before the article was published. They pointed to Murdoch's advanced years and reported health scares as justifications for the urgency of their request, arguing that these factors might hinder his ability to provide in-person testimony during the trial if not acted on quickly.
The lawsuit stems from an article featured in the Journal that described a letter attributed to Trump, which purportedly included humorous references amid drawings that some may consider inappropriate. After the article's release on July 17, Trump publicly denied having authored the letter asserting, “These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures.”
The controversy surrounding Epstein has significantly put pressure on various figures, including Trump, who previously had a well-documented social relationship with the late financier. Trump claims this relationship deteriorated well prior to Epstein's later legal troubles. Following the Wall Street Journal article, Trump raised claims suggesting his name was unfairly implicated in Justice Department files related to Epstein, hinting at a conspiracy involving high-profile officials, though he did not substantiate these allegations.
Amidst the tense legal backdrop, US District Judge Darrin Gayles has requested Murdoch’s response to the deposition motion by August 4. Meanwhile, Dow Jones, the publisher of the Wall Street Journal, has expressed its intent to vigorously defend its reporting amid Trump's allegations.
In the court documents submitted on Monday, Trump's legal team emphasized that Murdoch had previously been informed that the letter was "fake" before the article was published. They pointed to Murdoch's advanced years and reported health scares as justifications for the urgency of their request, arguing that these factors might hinder his ability to provide in-person testimony during the trial if not acted on quickly.
The lawsuit stems from an article featured in the Journal that described a letter attributed to Trump, which purportedly included humorous references amid drawings that some may consider inappropriate. After the article's release on July 17, Trump publicly denied having authored the letter asserting, “These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures.”
The controversy surrounding Epstein has significantly put pressure on various figures, including Trump, who previously had a well-documented social relationship with the late financier. Trump claims this relationship deteriorated well prior to Epstein's later legal troubles. Following the Wall Street Journal article, Trump raised claims suggesting his name was unfairly implicated in Justice Department files related to Epstein, hinting at a conspiracy involving high-profile officials, though he did not substantiate these allegations.
Amidst the tense legal backdrop, US District Judge Darrin Gayles has requested Murdoch’s response to the deposition motion by August 4. Meanwhile, Dow Jones, the publisher of the Wall Street Journal, has expressed its intent to vigorously defend its reporting amid Trump's allegations.
