President Donald Trump is pushing for a swift court deposition from media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, citing the 94-year-old's health and age as reasons for immediate action in his lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal. The lawsuit stems from an article alleging that Trump penned a "bawdy" letter for convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's 2003 birthday, which Trump vehemently denies.
In recent court documents submitted in Miami federal court, Trump's legal team claims that he had already informed Murdoch that the letter was "fake," prior to the Wall Street Journal's publication of the article, which they argue was intended to tarnish Trump's reputation. The lawsuit amounts to a staggering $10 billion.
Given Murdoch's age and reported health complications, Trump's lawyers stressed the urgency in securing his deposition, suggesting that he might not be able to testify in person later. The court filing emphasized that Murdoch’s health concerns may restrict his availability for the trial.
Judge Darrin Gayles, overseeing the case, has requested Murdoch to respond to Trump's deposition request by August 4. The content of the controversial letter reportedly included bizarre line drawings and text that allegedly depicted an imaginary conversation between Trump and Epstein, drawing further scrutiny to their past connections.
Following the publication of the article on July 17, Trump took to social media to deny the content presented, asserting, "These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures." As pressure mounts on the Trump administration regarding disclosures related to Epstein, Trump has connected his name in the Epstein files to former Attorney General Merrick Garland and former FBI director James Comey, without providing substantial evidence to back his claims.
As the case continues to unfold, observers are awaiting both Murdoch's response and the implications for Trump's ongoing legal challenges related to his past associations with Epstein.
