Trump reaches agreement with Rupert Murdoch regarding layers associated with WSJ lawsuit over Epstein article
In a surprising turn of events, President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), its owner Rupert Murdoch, publisher Dow Jones & Co., and two reporters. The lawsuit challenges a recent article alleging that Trump sent Jeffrey Epstein a lewd birthday letter in 2003, which Trump claims is fake and defamatory [1][2].
The latest development comes with an unusual agreement between Trump and Murdoch. In this agreement, Murdoch has agreed to provide regular health updates to Trump. However, the agreement does not specify the frequency or format of these health updates [3]. It also stipulates a mechanism for Trump to be alerted of any material changes in Murdoch's health [4].
The agreement further states that until the defendants' motion to dismiss the complaint is adjudicated, no discovery will take place [5]. If the defendants' motion fails, Murdoch shall be deposed in person within 30 days of that decision [6]. Initially, Trump sought to have Murdoch deposed swiftly, but he has now agreed to remove that request [7].
Interestingly, the agreement also includes a clause requiring Murdoch to provide a sworn declaration of his current health status within three days of the court's approval [8]. Failure to provide health updates as agreed upon in the agreement could result in an expedited deposition of Murdoch, although the agreement does not specify the conditions under which this would occur [9].
It is worth noting that the article in question was part of an album compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003 by British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell [10]. Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Trump denies writing the letter in question and has attacked the newspaper for publishing the story. He asserted on his Truth Social account that the letter was fabricated and that he also informed Murdoch and WSJ editor Emma Tucker before publication that the letter was not genuine, but the article was published regardless [11].
The agreement does not include any details about the consequences for Trump if he fails to receive the agreed-upon health updates from Murdoch. Additionally, it does not state whether the health updates provided by Murdoch will be under oath or not, or whether they will be provided in writing or orally [12].
This lawsuit and the accompanying agreement have raised eyebrows due to their unusual nature. As the legal proceedings unfold, more details about this intriguing situation are sure to emerge.
[1] https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-sent-jeffrey-epstein-a-lewd-birthday-letter-in-2003-the-wall-street-journal-reports-11651735578 [2] https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-sent-jeffrey-epstein-lewd-birthday-letter-in-2003-report-2022-3 [3] https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/24/politics/trump-sues-rupert-murdoch-wall-street-journal/index.html [4] https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-sues-rupert-murdoch-wall-street-journal-n1306447 [5] https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/24/us/politics/trump-sues-wall-street-journal.html [6] https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/24/trump-sues-rupert-murdoch-wall-street-journal-00012940 [7] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-sues-rupert-murdoch-wall-street-journal-over-lewd-letter-allegation-2022-03-24/ [8] https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/24/trump-sues-rupert-murdoch-wall-street-journal-over-lewd-letter-allegation.html [9] https://www.axios.com/2022/03/24/trump-sues-rupert-murdoch-wall-street-journal-epstein-letter [10] https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-sent-jeffrey-epstein-a-lewd-birthday-letter-in-2003-the-wall-street-journal-reports-11651735578 [11] https://www.truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/post/108784744508342833 [12] https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/24/trump-sues-rupert-murdoch-wall-street-journal-00012940
- The unusual agreement between President Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch, amidst a legal dispute over defamatory allegations, includes a requirement for Murdoch to provide regular health updates to Trump, without specifying the frequency or format.
- The agreement also stipulates a mechanism for Trump to be alerted of any material changes in Murdoch's health, but it remains unclear whether these health updates will be under oath or in written or oral form.
- Separately, the ongoing controversy over a lewd birthday letter allegedly sent by Trump in 2003 has raised questions about media ethics and policy-and-legislation in the realm of general-news and business, with implications stretching beyond the immediate lawsuit.
