Trump’s court case against Wall Street Journal over Epstein ‘birthday card’ dismissed by judge
Updated ,first published
Washington: A judge in Florida dismissed Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch. Wall StreetJournal over an article revealing that the younger Trump contributed to a “birthday book” for his then-friend Jeffrey Epstein in 2003.
The US president has filed a $15 billion lawsuit against the newspaper, its publisher and two journalists over a report published in July that said Trump’s signature appeared at the bottom of a coded letter written as a fictitious conversation between Trump and Epstein and framed with the outline of a woman’s body.
“Happy Birthday – and every day can be another wonderful secret,” the letter concluded. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s friend and accomplice, put together the book as a tribute to Epstein’s 50th birthday.
Trump denied writing or signing the letter. Daily: “This is not me. This is fake… I have never written a picture in my life. I don’t draw women.” His denial was incorporated into the story.
He later filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida, claiming the newspaper fabricated the story to defame him. At one point, Trump’s lawyers asked Murdoch for an expedited deposition because of the 95-year-old press baron’s age and health.
But on Monday (Florida time), judge Darrin Gayles dismissed the lawsuit, finding that Trump had not shown that the newspaper published the article with “actual malice.”
The case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning Trump could choose to reopen the case if he wanted. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump and Murdoch continue to maintain a friendly relationship despite the lawsuit filed in July. Murdoch has dined at the White House several times, including once in February.
And Trump attended Murdoch’s 95th birthday party in New York via video message last month, praising the Australian-born mogul as “one of a kind” changing the world.
More to come
Michael Koziol is the North America correspondent for The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, Sun-Herald deputy editor and a federal political correspondent in Canberra.Connect with: X or email.
