US Justice Division information a movement in Manhattan federal court docket to unseal grand jury transcripts within the Epstein circumstances.
United States President Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit towards The Wall Avenue Journal publication and its homeowners, together with media magnate Rupert Murdoch, searching for at the least $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 court docket 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 severe political injury.
Trump additionally instructed the US Justice Division to file a movement in Manhattan federal court docket 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 expenses associated to her position in Epstein’s sexual abuse of underage women.
Within the defamation lawsuit, Trump accuses Dow Jones, Information Corp, Murdoch and two Wall Avenue Journal reporters of performing with malicious intent that triggered him overwhelming monetary and reputational hurt. Dow Jones, the dad or mum 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 Fact Social: “I sit up for getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in my lawsuit towards him and his ‘pile of rubbish’ newspaper, the WSJ. That will likely 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 good friend, 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 Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi reversed course on the president’s election marketing campaign pledge to launch court docket 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 Avenue Journal reported that a letter bearing Trump’s signature was despatched to Epstein for considered one of his birthday celebrations.
The newspaper stated the letter contained a lewd handwritten reference to a lady, with the message: “Blissful Birthday – and should day by day 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 masking 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 stated there was “no incriminating shopper checklist” or proof that Epstein blackmailed distinguished individuals.
Nevertheless, Bondi, the US lawyer basic, had pledged months in the past to launch main revelations about Epstein, together with “numerous names” and “numerous flight logs”, earlier than reversing course. On Friday, Bondi’s Deputy Lawyer Basic Todd Blanche stated public curiosity within the Epstein case had prompted the Justice Division to file a request with the court docket to unseal transcripts of the case.
Trump, who was photographed with Epstein a number of occasions in social settings within the Nineties and early 2000s, informed reporters in 2019 that he ended his relationship with Epstein earlier than his authorized troubles grew to become obvious.