President Trump sued The Wall Street Journal, its owners and reporters for publishing a “false” letter purportedly wishing the late Jeffrey Epstein a happy birthday with suggestive, sexual references.
The paper published an article Thursday that claimed Mr. Trump drew an outline of a naked woman and wrote Epstein birthday wishes inside a third-person dialogue message.
Mr. Trump’s lawsuit says the paper reached out to the White House two days prior and was told by his lawyers that the letter was false yet published it anyway.
The article went live at a time when Mr. Trump and his administration refused to release a list of Epstein’s clients, who were alleged to have engaged in prostitution and sex acts with underage women.
“The statements were published by Defendants with actual malice, oppression, and fraud in that they were aware at the time of the falsity of the publication and thus, made said publications in bad faith, out of disdain and ill-will directed towards Plaintiff without any regard for the truth,” wrote Alejandro Brito, Mr. Trump’s lawyer in the complaint.
“Hundreds of millions of people have already viewed the false and defamatory statements published by Defendants. And given the timing of the Defendants’ article, which shows their malicious intent behind it, the overwhelming financial and reputational harm suffered by President Trump will continue to multiply.”
It was filed Friday in federal court in Miami. The lawsuit demands more than $10 billion in damages and a jury trial.
A spokesperson from the Wall Street Journal didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Also listed as defendants are: Dow Jones & Co., News Corp., Keith Rupert Murdoch, Robert Thomson, Khadeeja Safdar, and Joseph Palazzolo.
Mr. Trump’s lawsuit says the paper tried to pass off the 2003 letter as having been drawn and signed by the president. The outlet didn’t publish the actual letter and didn’t disclose how it was obtained or show proof that Mr. Trump did in fact create it.
“The reason for those failures is because no authentic letter or drawing exists. Defendants concocted this story to malign President Trump’s character and integrity and deceptively portray him in a false light,” the lawsuit said.
For the president to prove libel, he would have to show that The Wall Street Journal acted with actual malice, meaning that the paper knew it was false. The actual malice standard of proof for libel and defamation suits is particularly high for public figures like Mr. Trump.
According to The Associated Press, the letter was collected by disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend, as part of a birthday book for the wealthy financier.
According to the complaint, the text read:
Voice Over: There must be more to life than having everything.
Donald: Yes, there is, but I won’t tell you what it is.
Jeffrey: Nor will I, since I also know what it is.
Donald: We have certain things in common, Jeffrey.
Jeffrey: Yes, we do, come to think of it.
Donald: Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?
Jeffrey: As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you.
Donald: A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Mr. Trump took to Truth Social Friday to celebrate the filing of the lawsuit.
“This historic legal action is being brought against the so-called authors of this defamation, the now fully disgraced WSJ, as well as its corporate owners and affiliates, with Rupert Murdoch and Robert Thomson (whatever his role is!) at the top of the list,” Mr. Trump wrote.
“This lawsuit is filed not only on behalf of your favorite President, ME, but also in order to continue standing up for ALL Americans who will no longer tolerate the abusive wrongdoings of the Fake News Media. I hope Rupert and his ’friends’ are looking forward to the many hours of depositions and testimonies they will have to provide in this case.”
The case is President Donald Trump v. Dow Jones & Company, The Wall Street Journal, News Corporation, Keith Rupert Murdoch, Robert Thomson, Khadeeja Safdar, and Joseph Palazzolo.
It was filed in the Southern District of Florida.
