President Donald Trump has taken legal action against The Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, over a report that claimed Trump sent a birthday greeting to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003.
The Lawsuit: Trump Denies Report
The Wall Street Journal reported that the birthday greeting included a sexually suggestive drawing and a reference to secrets shared between Trump and Epstein.
Trump has vehemently denied the report and warned Murdoch that he planned to sue.
A Look into the Past
The lawsuit comes as Trump faces increased scrutiny about his relationship with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019.
Trump had previously been photographed with Epstein multiple times in social situations in the 1990s and early 2000s, but claimed he ended their relationship long before Epstein’s legal troubles became apparent.
The Epstein Case
The Epstein case has generated conspiracy theories that became popular among Trump’s base of supporters, who believed the government was covering up Epstein’s ties to the rich and powerful.
A Justice Department memo released on July 7 concluded that Epstein killed himself and said there was “no incriminating client list” or evidence that Epstein blackmailed prominent people.
Attorney-General Pam Bondi had previously pledged to reveal major revelations about Epstein, including “a lot of names” and “a lot of flight logs.”
Pressure to Release Files
With pressure to release the Epstein files building, Trump directed Bondi to ask a court to release grand jury testimony about Epstein.
The Department of Justice said the criminal cases against Epstein and his former associate Ghislaine Maxwell are a matter of public interest, justifying the release of associated grand jury transcripts.
Allegations that Epstein had been sexually abusing girls became public in 2006 – after the birthday book was produced – and he was arrested that year before accepting a plea deal.
Epstein died in 2019 in jail after he was arrested for a second time and charged with sex-trafficking conspiracy.
Trump’s Response
Trump took to Truth Social on Friday morning, saying, “I look forward to getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in my lawsuit against him and his ‘pile of garbage’ newspaper, the WSJ. That will be an interesting experience!!!”