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13. Maddow Blog-Following Epstein report, Trump files lawsuit against WSJ, Rupert Murdoch and others

Fri Jul 18, 2025, 05:59 PM

Jul 18

On Thursday night, the president vowed to sue The Wall Street Journal. Less than a day later, it became clear that he wasn't bluffing.

BREAKING: Following Epstein report, Trump files lawsuit against WSJ, Rupert Murdoch and others www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
— MSNBC (@msnbc.com) 2025-07-18T21:15:29.728Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-sues-wsj-murdoch-epstein-birthday-letter-rcna219701

Evidently, he wasn’t kidding. CNBC reported:

President Donald Trump on Friday followed through on his threat to sue media mogul Rupert Murdoch after his Wall Street Journal published an article saying that Trump sent Jeffrey Epstein a ‘bawdy’ letter for Epstein’s 50th birthday. Court records show that Trump filed a lawsuit alleging libel against Murdoch, the Journal’s publisher, Dow Jones, and the reporters who wrote the article in federal court for the Southern District of Florida.

The civil suit comes one day after the Republican referred to the Journal as a “disgusting and filthy rag.”

According to the docket, Trump’s claims are: "Cause: 28:1332 Diversity-Libel, Assault, Slander." It was filed in the Southern District of Florida. A complaint has yet to be listed on the docket......

Thursday's report, however, appears to have taken the president's contempt for the WSJ to a new level. The Journal advanced the controversy with a new report on a 2003 birthday album, collected by former Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, which reportedly included a highly provocative letter bearing Trump’s name and signature.

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Highlight:

Trump sues Murdoch, Dow Jones over WSJ story on Epstein birthday letter: court records [View all] BumRushDaShow Jul 18 OP

Hey, Trump! PJMcK Jul 18 #1

Taco. He'll drop it before any discovery needs to happen. Scrivener7 Jul 18 #2

If he drops it, Murdoch could counter-sue for vexacious litigation. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Jul 18 #7

Not successfully onenote Jul 18 #17

Unless the POS in the WH can show they acted with malice, and knowingly made a false statement with lostincalifornia Jul 18 #3

kelleyanne conjob strikes again??? - n/t lapfog_1 Jul 18 #4

What insane lawyer signed that frivolous pleading under FRCP Rule 11? Tarzanrock Jul 18 #5

Found This Thread On reddit r/law That You Might Appreciate... The Court System Is Now His Protection Racket MayReasonRule Jul 19 #35

He sues for frivolous reasons all the time. ShazzieB Jul 19 #40

The new f word. twodogsbarking Jul 18 #6

If you listen carefully you can hear the rattling of attorney's swords. twodogsbarking Jul 18 #8

Discovery should be fun Ritabert Jul 18 #9

Why? What do you think the Journal will be seeking to discover that would be relevant to their defense? onenote Jul 19 #34

Truth Is Generally Considered An Abolute And Complete Defense Against Defamation Claims MayReasonRule Jul 19 #37

Actually, the burden in this case is on Trump, not WSJ -- and that's why its a dangerous case for the WSJ onenote Jul 19 #38

So why is this a dangerous case for the WSJ? SCOTUS MayReasonRule Jul 19 #39

More dangerous to everyone involved with getting the story published IbogaProject Jul 19 #42

Hey Rupe! Don't forget to demand Attorneys Fees and costs! no_hypocrisy Jul 18 #10

Do I really have to root for Rupert Murdoch now? ificandream Jul 18 #11

Root for Joe Palazzolo...he's a good reporter Prairie Gates Jul 19 #25

Trump sues Wall Street Journal's publisher and 2 reporters over Epstein article LetMyPeopleVote Jul 18 #12

Maddow Blog-Following Epstein report, Trump files lawsuit against WSJ, Rupert Murdoch and others LetMyPeopleVote Jul 18 #13

If The President has immunity, he shouldn't be able to file lawsuits on his own behalf. ruet Jul 18 #14

Just do it felon, just do it. republianmushroom Jul 18 #15

id love for teh wsj to subpeona the epstein files during discovery.... moonshinegnomie Jul 18 #16

It wouldn't succeed onenote Jul 18 #18

This will get interesting orangecrush Jul 18 #19

20 years ago he was apparently more literate and articulate. Evidence of diminished capacity? Marcuse Jul 18 #20

Murdoch will 'settle' for million$ pfitz59 Jul 18 #21

News Corps BumRushDaShow Jul 19 #28

Has E. Jean Carroll been paid yet? tonekat Jul 18 #22

I wonder if trump understands choie Jul 18 #23

He'l deny he wrote the card. He admit he was friends with Epstein prior to 2004. onenote Sunday #43

Analysis from MSNBC's Lisa Rubin with Nicole Wallace pat_k Jul 19 #24

"seize back the narrative"... IthinkThereforeIAM Jul 19 #29

Souther District of Florida johnnyfins Jul 19 #26

My first thought when I seen the location of the filing... IthinkThereforeIAM Jul 19 #30

It's my understanding that there are only two absolute defenses in law and they concern libel and slander. MIButterfly Jul 19 #27

Good point... IthinkThereforeIAM Jul 19 #31

A country to run? lonely bird Jul 19 #36

I'm... myohmy2 Jul 19 #32

Can't wait for discovery dlk Jul 19 #33

What is the discovery phase of a libel suit kkmarie Jul 19 #41