A federal judge in Florida has dismissed Donald Trump's defamation lawsuit against media mogul Rupert Murdoch and Wall Street Journal reporters. The case centred on a 2023 article about a letter bearing Trump's name in a birthday book compiled for the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
US District Judge Darrin Gayles, appointed by President Barack Obama, ruled on Monday that the Journal's reporting did not meet the legal standard for defamation. The lawsuit, which sought $10 billion in damages, alleged the letter was fabricated.
Core of the Legal Dispute
The Wall Street Journal's July 2023 story detailed a "bawdy" letter featuring an outline of a nude woman, sent for Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003. Trump's legal team filed suit the same month, personally naming Murdoch and reporters, and claiming the letter was "not real."
In October 2023, the US House Oversight Committee released a redacted copy of the birthday book obtained via subpoena from Epstein's estate. This copy included the letter in question, which read: "A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret."
Judge's Rationale for Dismissal
Judge Gayles stated he did not consider the committee's later release of the book when evaluating the dismissal. He ruled that Trump's allegations failed to prove the Journal acted with "actual malice," a required standard for public figures in defamation cases.
The judge noted the newspaper had sought comment from The White House, the FBI, and the Justice Department prior to publication. This, he concluded, demonstrated the outlet did not "deliberately avoid investigating the veracity of the book," countering Trump's claims.
Implications and Next Steps
The dismissal means Rupert Murdoch, 95, chairman emeritus of News Corp., avoids being deposed in the case for now. Trump had previously sought to accelerate proceedings to force a deposition, but a deal was struck to pause questioning pending the judge's dismissal decision.
A spokesperson for Trump's legal team stated, "President Trump will follow Judge Gayles's ruling and guidance to refile this powerhouse lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and all of the other Defendants." News Corp., the parent company of Dow Jones which publishes the Journal, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.