Photo: thedailybeast.com
The lawsuit filed by U.S. President Donald Trump for $10 billion against media giant Rupert Murdoch and the influential publication The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has taken an unexpected turn. A federal judge in the state of Florida decided to dismiss this massive claim. Zamin.uz presents the details of this dispute that has shaken global politics and media.
Billion-dollar dispute and Jeffrey Epstein’s letter
At the center of the controversy is a sensational article published in WSJ. It claimed that Trump allegedly sent an obscene letter and drawing to well-known financier Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 on the occasion of his 50th birthday. Trump strongly denied this information and demanded $10 billion in compensation from the publication.
Judge’s decision: “malicious intent” not proven
Federal Judge Darrin Gayles, while dismissing the lawsuit, stated that Trump failed to provide evidence that the defendants had “malicious intent” or aimed to cause harm. Under U.S. law, public figures (presidents, politicians) must prove that the media knowingly published false information.
Interestingly, before the article was published, journalists requested comments from Trump himself, the FBI, and the Department of Justice. According to the judge, this indicates that the publication attempted to investigate the matter and did not act with intent to defame.
History of the dispute: obscene drawing and Trump’s denial
The article published in July 2024 contained references to Trump’s ties with Epstein. Donald Trump stated that he had never written such a letter or made such a drawing and threatened the publication with legal action. For reference, Jeffrey Epstein was arrested in 2019 on charges of trafficking minors and died in prison.
Although the judge dismissed the current lawsuit, Trump was left the option to refile a modified version of the claim.
Dear readers, in your opinion, how appropriate is it for major media outlets to publish personal information about famous individuals? Will Trump be able to prove his case?
