Lawyers representing President Donald Trump have filed a motion requesting a quick deposition from Rupert Murdoch regarding a contentious article published by the Wall Street Journal, which is owned by Murdoch's News Corp. Trump's legal team argues that Murdoch, who is 94 years old and reportedly has faced recent health issues, should testify within the next 15 days. The case centers on an article that claimed Trump authored an inappropriate letter celebrating the birthday of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003.
In their filing, Trump's attorneys asserted that Murdoch was informed about the authenticity of the letter prior to the article's publication, labeling it as a "fake." They emphasized the urgency of deposing Murdoch, believing that due to his age and health concerns, he may not be able to provide in-person testimony at the trial.
The litigation, which is seeking $10 billion in damages against the Wall Street Journal, contends that the publication's reporting aimed to damage Trump's reputation. Murdoch has until August 4 to respond to the deposition request, as mandated by US District Judge Darrin Gayles, who oversees the case.
The article triggered considerable controversy, describing a letter supposedly from Trump that included illustrations of a nude woman and portrayed an imaginary conversation between him and Epstein. Trump vehemently denied writing the letter, insisting that the wording and style did not reflect his character or manner of expressing himself.
The publication occurred at a time when pressure was mounting on Trump's administration to offer greater transparency regarding Epstein, who had ties to several prominent figures, including Trump. Trump's relationship with Epstein reportedly soured in 2004, well before Epstein's eventual arrest for sex trafficking, and he has suggested that his mention in government documents related to Epstein may have been planted by political adversaries.
Despite making these claims, Trump has not provided concrete evidence, and both former Attorney General Merrick Garland and ex-FBI director James Comey have yet to comment on his allegations. As the legal battle unfolds, the implications surrounding Epstein and Trump's associations continue to navigate a politically charged atmosphere.
