Trump Files $20 Billion Libel Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Birthday Letter Report
President Donald Trump sued the Wall Street Journal, its parent corporations, and two of its journalists in a broad $20 billion libel lausuit for defamation over a story stating that he sent a sexually charged birthday letter to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003.
The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Florida, includes Dow Jones & Company, News Corp, its owner Rupert Murdoch, and journalists Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo as defendants. The suit accuses the publication of “blatant failures in journalistic ethics” and states that the letter written about in the story is a forgery.
Allegations and Legal Claims
The Wall Street Journal late Thursday reported that Trump signed a note to Epstein’s 50th birthday photo album, which included an alleged hand-drawn diagram of a naked woman and a message about “wonderful secrets.” The letter was reportedly assembled by Epstein’s former business partner, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Trump’s lawyers say that the Journal did not print the actual letter or drawing and did not present proof of its authenticity. “The reason those failures happened is simple — no authentic letter or drawing exists,” the complaint says.
The suit demands damages of a minimum of $20 billion and contains allegations of libel, slander, and assault. Trump has denied the writing of the letter and labeled the report “false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS” in a Truth Social post.
Trump’s Response
In a series of Truth Social posts, Trump stated, “We just filed a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit against all of the people involved with printing the false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS ‘article’ in the worthless ‘rag’ that is, The Wall Street Journal.” He continued, “I hope Rupert and his ‘friends’ are enjoying the numerous hours of depositions and testimonies that they will be required to give in this case”.
Trump also alleged that Murdoch personally was cautioned not to print the story and had promised to step in, but “clearly, did not have the authority to do so.”
Defense Journal
Dow Jones’ spokesperson reacted, saying, “We have complete confidence in the quality and integrity of our reporting, and will aggressively defend against any lawsuit.”.
The Journal did not publish the purported letter or sketch, citing editorial prerogative and protection of its sources. The reporters listed in the lawsuit have not commented publicly.
Wider Context and Consequences
The suit follows renewed focus on Trump’s previous association with Epstein, who killed himself in federal prison in 2019 while facing trial on sex trafficking charges. Trump admitted to knowing Epstein but claims that they fell out years earlier before Epstein’s legal issues escalated.
The Department of Justice recently dropped a memo to say it has no evidence Epstein kept a “client list” of influential people, a revelation that frustrated many of Trump’s supporters who had demanded complete disclosure of Epstein-related documents.
Under pressure mounting, Trump told Attorney General Pam Bondi to ask for the unsealing of grand jury testimony supporting Epstein’s prosecution. The DOJ on Friday filed a motion to make those transcripts public, citing “extensive public interest”.
Expert Commentary
Legal experts point to the novelty of the suit. “To my knowledge, no sitting president has ever sued a reporter or news organization for allegedly defaming him,” wrote First Amendment lawyer Ted Boutrous. “When you have the presidential bully pulpit, you just don’t need to sue to get to the truth.”
University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias further said, “Trump’s attack on the Journal is consistent with his wider effort to assault the media, which threatens to chill press freedom.”
What’s Next
The case will most likely go forward in federal court, although a full release of the complaint has not yet been forthcoming. Legal observers predict an aggressive defense on the part of the Journal and its corporate parent companies, as Trump’s attorneys gear up for what Trump labeled a “historic legal action.”
As the scandal over its unfolding, it continues to rage debate surrounding media responsibility, executive authority, and the shadowy leftovers of Epstein’s legacy.