Trump sues Murdoch, Wall Street Journal over Epstein birthday letter story, seeking $10 billion in damages

The move came shortly after the Justice Department asked a federal court on Friday to unseal grand jury transcripts in Epstein’s sex trafficking case, as the administration seeks to contain the firestorm that erupted after it announced that it would not be releasing additional files from the case, despite previously pledging to do so

The controversy has created a major fissure between Trump and his loyal base, with some of his most vocal supporters slamming the White House for the way it has handled the case, and questioning why Trump would not want the documents made public (which is quite significant)

In contrast, Trump denied writing the letter, calling the story “false, malicious, and defamatory

On the other hand, ” The suit, filed in filed in federal court in Miami, accuses the paper and its reporters of having “knowingly and recklessly” published “numerous false, defamatory, and disparaging statements,” which, it alleges, caused “overwhelming financial and reputational harm” to the president, in light of current trends

Additionally, A spokesperson for Dow Jones, the Journal’s publisher, responded Friday night, “We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit

Moreover, ” The letter revealed by The Wall Street Journal was reportedly collected by disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell as part of a birthday album for Epstein years before the wealthy financier was first arrested in 2006 and subsequently had a falling-out with Trump, in today's financial world

What the re reveals is letter bearing Trump’s name includes text framed by the outline of what appears to be a hand-drawn naked woman and ends with, “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,” according to the newspaper (which is quite significant)

Moreover, Trump denied writing the letter and mised to sue

He said he spoke to both to the paper’s owner, Rupert Murdoch, and its top editor, Emma Tucker, before the story was published and told them the letter was “fake. ” “These are not my words, not the way I talk

Also, I don’t draw pictures,” the president insisted, amid market uncertainty

This analysis suggests that outlet described the contents of the letter but did not publish a photo showing it entirely or vide details on how it came to learn it

In the lawsuit, Trump takes issue with that fact, amid market uncertainty

The data indicates that defendants, it attests, “failed to attach the letter, failed to attach the alleged drawing, failed to show of that President Trump authored or signed any such letter, and failed to explain how this purported letter was obtained. ” “The reason for those failures is because no authentic letter or drawing exists,” it goes on to charge, alleging that the “Defendants concocted this story to malign President Trump’s character and integrity and deceptively portray him in a false light

Additionally, ” Earlier Friday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche filed motions in a separate federal court urging them to unseal the Epstein transcripts as well as those in the case against Maxwell, who was convicted of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein, considering recent developments

The Justice Department’s announcement that it would not be making public any more Epstein files enraged parts of Trump’s base in part because members of his own administration had hyped the expected release and stoked conspiracies around the well-connected financier (this bears monitoring)

The Justice Department said in the court filings that it will work with with secutors in New York to make appriate redactions of victim-related information and other personally identifying information before transcripts are released

Nevertheless, “Transparency in this cess will not be at the expense of our obligation under the law to tect victims,” Blanche wrote

But despite the new push to release the grand jury transcripts, the administration has not announced plans to reverse course and release other evidence in its possession (this bears monitoring)

Attorney General Pam Bondi had hyped the release of more materials after the first Epstein files disclosure in February sparked outrage because it contained no new revelations

A judge would have to apve the release of the grand jury transcripts, and it’s ly to be a lengthy cess to decide what can become public and to make redactions to tect sensitive witness and victim information

The records would show testimony of witnesses and other evidence that was presented by secutions during the secret grand jury ceedings, when a panel decides whether there is enough evidence to bring an indictment, or a formal criminal charge. ____ Neumeister and Colvin reported from New York

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