Trump sues Rupert Murdoch over 'bawdy' Epstein letter as he orders release of transcripts related to the sex offender
Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against Wall Street Journal owner Rupert Murdoch and two journalists over a letter he allegedly wrote to Jeffrey Epstein, as the US files to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Epstein.
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President Donald Trump had denied writing a "bawdy" birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein, after the major US newspaper reported his name appeared on the note.
It was supposedly part of a leather-bound album gifted to Epstein for his 50th birthday, roughly three years before sexual abuse allegations emerged about the infamous financier and socialite.
Trump initially took to Truth Social to blast the Rupert Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal for sharing what he called a 'fake letter' that was allegedly included in an album compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell to celebrate Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003.
It is part of several documents that were examined by the Department of Justice when it first investigated Epstein and Maxwell years ago, according to sources familiar with the issue.
The alleged letter includes a hand-drawn image showing the silhouette of a naked woman with a typed letter of an imagined conversation between the two.
The paper said the letter concludes "Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret", and featured the signature "Donald".
The US president has now announced he filed a libel lawsuit against Murdoch, two reporters and News Corp, the publisher controlled by Murdoch.
The US government has also filed to unseal grand jury transcripts related to notorious sex trafficker Epstein.
Read more: Ghislaine Maxwell could use ‘government misconduct’ to challenge imprisonment
The Department of Justice said the criminal cases against him and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who was also found guilty of child sex trafficking, are a matter of public interest.
This justifies the release of the grand jury transcripts related to the pair.
It comes after Trump directed Pam Bondi to 'produce any and all pertinent grand jury testimony subject to court approval' in an attempt to stop what he has now dubbed the 'Epstein Hoax'.
He wrote on Truth Social he requested to unseal the transcripts after the "ridiculous amount of publicity" given to Epstein, who Trump was reportedly close with.
Bondi responded on X, saying: "President Trump—we are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts."
The DOJ has previously said it has about 200 documents on Epstein, and that the FBI held many more documents on the disgraced financier.
It is not known how many of these documents are grand jury transcripts, which are normally kept secret under US law.
It comes as pressure mounts on the Trump administration to publish the Epstein client list after politicians came out and said that it didn't exist.
Read more: Almost 3 minutes of footage missing from Epstein prison surveillance video
Read more: Trump lashes out at longtime supporters over 'Bull***t Epstein Hoax' amid cover-up allegations
There have been conspiracy theories swirling around for years regarding the nature of Epstein's death and who was involved in his activities.
Key figures in the administration have been outspoken on the Epstein case including deputy director of the FBI Dan Bongino and director of the FBI Kash Patel - however, they have now said that there is nothing more to it.
The WSJ said of the drawing on the letter allegedly written by Trump: "A pair of small arcs denotes the woman’s breasts, and the future president’s signature is a squiggly 'Donald' below her waist, mimicking pubic hair."
The letter allegedly says: "Voice Over: There must be more to life than having everything.
"Donald: Yes, there is, but I won’t tell you what it is.
"Jeffrey: Nor will I, since I also know what it is.
"Donald: We have certain things in common, Jeffrey.
"Jeffrey: Yes, we do, come to think of it.
"Donald: Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?
"Jeffrey: As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you.
"Trump: A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret."
Trump has denied writing the letter or drawing the picture, telling reporters at the WSJ on Tuesday that it's a 'fake thing' and a 'fake Wall Street Journal Story'.
"I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women," he said. "It’s not my language. It’s not my words."