Journalers Dispute; Dow Jones Vows Defense
In the original story, Safdar and Palazzolo wrote that the letter featured typewritten text framed by a sketch, ending with an obscene birthday wish. Trump strongly refuted the report, asserting it was “fake … not my language.”
Dow Jones responded Friday, asserting confidence in its reporting and pledging to defend the story vigorously. Trump, meanwhile, took to his platform Truth Social, labeling the Journal “fully disgraced” and promising legal depositions for Murdoch, Thomson, and others.
Legal and Evidentiary Flashpoints
Trump’s lawsuit invokes both defamation per se and defamation per quod, and seeks unspecified damages—including at least $10 billion in punitive and general damages. He accuses Dow Jones and News Corp. of violating journalistic ethics with “malicious intent,” claiming the story has reached hundreds of millions of readers, inflicting ongoing reputation and financial damage.
Epstein Investigations and Grand Jury Records
The suit arrives amid renewed scrutiny over the Epstein case. A July 6 DOJ/FBI memo revealed no evidence of Epstein’s alleged “client list” or blackmail scheme involving prominent figures. Additionally, prosecutors in Manhattan are pushing to unseal grand jury testimony from Epstein’s 2019 criminal case. Meanwhile, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell is appealing her 2022 sex trafficking conviction, with her legal team seeking Supreme Court review.
