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President Donald Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit Friday against The Wall Street Journal and its parent company, Dow Jones, claiming the paper knowingly published “false and malicious” information about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The lawsuit marks a sharp escalation in a week dominated by renewed scrutiny of Trump’s past association with the convicted sex offender and his administration’s shifting approach to the Epstein investigation.
The complaint, filed in federal court in Miami, came just hours after the Justice Department separately asked a federal judge to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Epstein’s sex trafficking case. That motion followed days of public criticism after the administration abruptly reversed course and said it would no longer release additional Epstein files, despite earlier pledges to do so.
Trump Calls Story “Fabricated,” Targets Murdoch
Trump’s lawsuit centers on a Thursday Wall Street Journal report that described a sexually suggestive letter allegedly bearing his name, purportedly part of a birthday album given to Epstein by Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003. According to the article, the letter featured a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman and ended with the line: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump has forcefully denied writing the letter. In a post on Truth Social, he called the story “false, malicious, and defamatory,” and said he had spoken directly with Journal owner Rupert Murdoch and Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker before publication.
“These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures,” 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.”
The complaint alleges that the Journal’s reporting caused “overwhelming financial and reputational harm” to the president and accuses the publication of failing to authenticate the letter or disclose how it obtained the material.
A spokesperson for Dow Jones said Friday, “We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”
DOJ Seeks Epstein Transcripts Amid Political Firestorm
While Trump’s legal team moved to counter the story, the Department of Justice filed motions to unseal grand jury testimony from both the Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cases. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, in the court filing, argued that releasing the material was necessary due to the “public’s legitimate and longstanding interest.”
The filings signal a shift after Attorney General Pam Bondi drew criticism last week for walking back promises to release Epstein-related evidence. The administration’s reversal angered many within Trump’s own base, who had expected explosive revelations and have accused the DOJ of shielding powerful figures.
Bondi previously stated that no Epstein “client list” existed and said there was no evidence the financier was murdered—contradicting persistent conspiracy theories popular among Trump supporters.
Blanche said the Justice Department is working with prosecutors in New York to redact personally identifying and victim-related information before any materials are released.
“Transparency in this process will not be at the expense of our obligation under the law to protect victims,” Blanche wrote in the filing.
Fallout Among Trump Allies and Base
The lawsuit and DOJ motions come amid growing unease within Trump’s political base, some of whom have turned sharply critical over the president’s handling of the Epstein case. Prominent right-wing influencers have expressed disappointment over the lack of follow-through on promises to “expose everything.”
“There’s real tension here,” said political analyst Sofia Delgado. “Trump has long used the Epstein case to energize his base and cast himself as an outsider willing to take on elites. But now his administration is being accused of hiding things.”
While grand jury transcripts may offer new insights, they represent only a fraction of the material still sealed. It remains unclear if the administration intends to revisit its decision not to release other Epstein-related evidence.
Legal Process Likely to Be Lengthy
The ultimate decision to release the grand jury materials lies with a federal judge. In the Epstein case, that judge is Richard M. Berman, who oversaw pretrial proceedings before Epstein’s 2019 death, ruled a suicide. Legal experts say the court must consult with victims and individuals named in the testimony, and any disclosure will require careful redaction—a process that could stretch for months.
Grand jury proceedings are typically secret, and federal rules tightly govern their disclosure. Exceptions are made only under rare circumstances and with judicial approval.
Epstein died in federal custody while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell was later convicted of assisting in the abuse of minors and is currently serving a 20-year sentence.
