US President Donald Trump’s legal team is trying to question Rupert Murdoch, the 94-year-old founder of News Corp, within 15 days as a part of Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal, according to a report by The New York Times. This lawsuit is based on an article from July 17, which claims that Trump sent a suggestive birthday letter to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, something Trump refutes. Trump’s attorneys mention Murdoch’s old age and health problems, including an incident in 2023 when he fainted during a breakfast meeting, as reasons to speed up the deposition, as reported by The New York Times. In a court document filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Trump’s lawyers argued that Murdoch should be questioned quickly due to his age of 94 and that he has "had, but fortunately recovered from, numerous health issues throughout his life" making it unlikely for him to attend a trial in person.
The paperwork stated, “President Trump is only seeking to have Murdoch’s deposition taken and request that he provide documents related solely to his role in and any talks connected to the choice to publish the article.” Trump filed a lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal on July 18, the day after the paper released a piece discussing a risqué birthday note that it claimed Trump had sent to Epstein in 2003, five years before Epstein admitted to soliciting a minor for prostitution. This note included a suggestive sketch. Trump has denied any involvement with the letter or drawing, labeling it a "fake thing."
In their request on Monday, Trump’s attorneys referenced an incident from 2023 when Murdoch passed out during a breakfast in London with one of his executives, Rebekah Brooks. They also pointed out a Vanity Fair article that reported Murdoch had been hospitalized in recent years for Covid-19 as well as suffering from a broken back, seizures, two instances of pneumonia, atrial fibrillation, and a torn Achilles tendon. Trump is filing suit against Murdoch, Dow Jones, News Corp, and two reporters from The Wall Street Journal regarding the article, claiming it is defamatory. The document also mentioned that Murdoch, as the director and main owner of News Corp, "is in a unique spot to easily access all records, communications, and information regarding the article and the choice to publish it," according to The New York Times. The lawyers added that Murdoch has "an advantage" compared to Trump, as he has access to information about the article that Trump "has very limited information" on. A representative for Murdoch did not reply immediately to a request for comments on Monday. A spokesperson for Dow Jones, the publisher of The Journal, had previously mentioned in a statement: “We are completely confident in the thoroughness and accuracy of our reporting and will strongly defend against any litigation.” Besides Murdoch, Trump also filed suit against Dow Jones; News Corp, the parent company of Dow Jones; Robert Thomson, the CEO of News Corp; and the two reporters who covered the story.
