Trump Trolls Rupert Murdoch: Asks For 94-Year-Old To Be Deposed ASAP In Wall Street Journal Epstein Case

Trump Trolls Rupert Murdoch: Asks For 94-Year-Old To Be Deposed ASAP In Wall Street Journal Epstein CaseByAlison Durkee, Forbes Staff

Additionally, On the other hand, Alison is a senior news reporter covering US and legal news

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch looks on as President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the White House (noteworthy indeed)

The Washington Post via Getty ImagesKey FactsTrump filed a motion in federal court asking for an “expedited deposition” from Murdoch, citing the 94-year-old’s age, recent health issues and residence in New York City, which Trump claimed might make it difficult for him to testify at trial in Florida if the case moves forward

Additionally, Trump has sued Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal over its July 17 article alleging the president sent a “bawdy” letter to Epstein for his 50th birthday, which included a drawing of a naked woman and Trump telling the late financier, “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret. ”The president has vehemently denied ever writing such a letter, and has taken particular issue with Murdoch, alleging the Journal published the article after Trump personally reached out to the media titan and told him the reporting was false

Murdoch allegedly “advised President Trump that ‘he would take care of it’” after the president reached out the Journal’s reporting, Monday’s court filing alleges, but the article was then published anyway, after Murdoch allegedly “discuss[ed] the priety of publishing the Article” with others at the Journal and was reportedly involved in the framing of the piece (an important development)

Trump asked for the deposition to take place within the next 15 days, but Judge Darrin P

In contrast, Gayles only asked for Murdoch to respond to Trump’s request by Aug

Meanwhile, 4, suggesting any deposition will not take place for at least a week (which is quite significant)

News Corp has not yet responded to a request for

What To Watch ForWhile Murdoch’s deposition may take place sooner, there isn’t expected to be much other movement in the Journal case for the next two months, as the court has asked the defendants to respond to Trump’s lawsuit by Sept (noteworthy indeed), given the current landscape

Nevertheless, Legal experts have been broadly skeptical of Trump’s defamation arguments, but it remains to be seen if the case will go to trial, or if a judge could dismiss it sooner, in light of current trends

If the lawsuit doesn’t get thrown out, then Trump and others involved with the case may also be deposed, and legal experts have warned that the fact-finding phase of the lawsuit could backfire on Trump by revealing information his relationship with Epstein, considering recent developments

Crucial Quote“Because Defendants published the Article after President Trump spoke directly with Murdoch and advised him that the letter referenced in the Article was fake, Murdoch’s direct involvement further underscores Defendants’ actual malice and intent behind the decision to publish the false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory statements President Trump identified in the Complaint,” Trump alleged in the court filing Monday

What Is Trump’s Relationship With Rupert Murdoch (something worth watching), given current economic conditions

Additionally, Meanwhile, Trump and Murdoch, who also controls Trump-friendly Fox News, have had a mixed relationship over the years

Murdoch was initially skeptical of Trump’s first presidential bid, The New York Times notes, but the two went on to have a friendly relationship during the president’s first term, reportedly gossiping on the phone together as Fox personalities praised the president and his agenda

Additionally, After initially throwing weight behind Florida Gov

Ron DeSantis’ failed presidential bid, Fox News and Murdoch are now back to firmly favoring the president and his agenda, however, with Murdoch appearing at Trump’s second inauguration and in the Oval Office with the president in February

But the Journal’s reporting on Trump’s relationship with Epstein has seemingly soured the two’s relationship again, with sources cited by the Times claiming Trump’s anger over the Journal’s reporting is “exclusively trained” on Murdoch and the Journal for moving forward with the story after Trump ed the media chief

The Journal has continued to report on Trump’s relationship with Epstein despite the defamation case being brought, and Murdoch has reportedly personally remained defiant against the president, with The Washington Post reporting the media mogul said of Trump’s litigation, “I’m 94 years old and I will not be intimidated, given current economic conditions. ”Key BackgroundThe Journal’s reporting on Trump’s relationship with Epstein, and the subsequent defamation case, comes as the president has faced growing criticism for his friendship with Epstein, who was indicted on sex trafficking charges before dying in prison in 2019 (something worth watching)

Trump was well-known to have been friends with Epstein from the 1980s through early 2000s, prior to a reported falling out in 2004, but the president has never been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with the financier

On the other hand, Conversely, While officials in the Trump administration had long mised to release the government’s files on Epstein, the Justice Department’s July memo saying no further files would be released has reignited scrutiny over the Epstein case and Trump’s friendship with him, in today's financial world

Furthermore, The Journal reported Trump was personally informed his name appeared in the government’s Epstein files, though there is still no indication the files show any evidence of wrongdoing (something worth watching)

Trump has tried to downplay and distance himself from the Epstein case amid the controversy, claiming Monday it is a “hoax that’s been built up way beyond portion. ” The president also maintained he turned down an invitation to Epstein’s private island, while casting suspicion on other high-file figures who had ties to the financier

Further ReadingForbesWhy Trump’s Epstein Case Against Wall Street Journal Could Backfire On HimBy Alison Durkee ForbesTrump Sues Rupert Murdoch, Dow Jones Over WSJ Story Linking Him To Jeffrey EpsteinBy Siladitya RayGot a tip

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