In a noteworthy legal maneuver, President Trump requests expedited testimony from Rupert Murdoch concerning allegations made by the Wall Street Journal regarding a letter linked to Epstein.
Trump Pushes for Rapid Testimony from Rupert Murdoch in Epstein Lawsuit
Trump Pushes for Rapid Testimony from Rupert Murdoch in Epstein Lawsuit
Trump's legal team urges court for a swift deposition of Murdoch, citing his age and health concerns.
Lawyers representing President Donald Trump have filed a request with a U.S. court to expedite the testimony of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch in a lawsuit related to an article published in the Wall Street Journal, which Murdoch owns through News Corp. Trump's legal team highlighted Murdoch's advanced age of 94 years and his health vulnerabilities as reasons for the urgency, asserting that delays could hinder the proceedings.
The lawsuit, which seeks $10 billion in damages, was triggered by a Journal report alleging that Trump had authored a "bawdy" birthday letter to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. In their court filings, Trump's lawyers indicated that the former president had priorly informed Murdoch about the letter's authenticity being questionable before the article was released.
In their submission to Miami federal court, Trump's lawyers expressed concern about Murdoch's potential unavailability for in-person testimony during the trial, particularly because he has recently faced health challenges. Given the seriousness of these factors, they argue that Murdoch's deposition should occur within 15 days.
The legal dispute highlights the tensions following colorful details from the alleged letter, which supposedly contained typewritten lines framed by a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman. Reports claim the note included a mock conversation between Trump and Epstein, humorously noting that "enigmas never age" and ended with a birthday wish filled with allusions to secrets.
In response to the publication of this article on July 17, Trump promptly denied he had written the letter, emphasizing, “These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures.” This media lighting comes at a time when the Trump administration faced increasing scrutiny regarding Epstein, with revelations suggesting links between Trump and Epstein lasting for years, until the former expressed disapproval of Epstein’s actions around 2004.
Reports also surfaced noting that Trump’s name appeared among numerous individuals tied to Epstein in Justice Department documents. Trump, however, suggested that his name might have been inserted into the information by former Attorney General Merrick Garland or ex-FBI Director James Comey, without presenting evidence for those claims. The public has been left wondering about the implications of this ongoing saga involving high-profile figures and the fallout from Epstein's controversial legacy.
