Trump sues Murdoch and Wall Street Journal for $10bn over Epstein article

July 19, 2025

Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against Dow Jones and Rupert Murdoch over a Wall Street Journal article claiming he sent a "bawdy" birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. Trump denies writing the note, which allegedly contained inappropriate content and was framed by a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman. The lawsuit comes amid broader controversy surrounding the Epstein case, with the US Justice Department now requesting the unsealing of grand jury materials related to Epstein's 2019 sex trafficking case.

Who is affected

Donald Trump
Dow Jones and Rupert Murdoch
Wall Street Journal
Jeffrey Epstein (posthumously) and Ghislaine Maxwell
Trump supporters who are disappointed with the handling of Epstein files
Attorney General Pam Bondi facing calls to resign
Congressional representatives pushing for document release
The public awaiting potential document disclosures

What action is being taken

Trump is filing a $10 billion lawsuit against Dow Jones and Rupert Murdoch
The US Justice Department is requesting a judge to unseal grand jury materials related to Epstein's sex trafficking case
Members of Congress are pushing to pass a "discharge petition" to force broader release of Epstein-related materials
Dow Jones is preparing to "vigorously defend against any lawsuit"
Attorney General Bondi is formally requesting document releases from a New York judge

Why it matters

The lawsuit represents a significant legal challenge between a sitting US president and a major media corporation
The case involves allegations connecting the president to a convicted sex offender
The potential release of Epstein's grand jury materials could reveal new information about a high-profile sex trafficking case
The situation has created unusual political alliances, with Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Democrats like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez both supporting document release
Trump's handling of the Epstein case has caused dissatisfaction among some of his most loyal supporters

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC