‘I’m going to sue his ass off’: Trump turns on Murdoch over Epstein story

Harrisburg: US President Donald Trump says he will sue the Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal for a story claiming he wrote a cryptic letter – with an “outline of a naked woman” – to now-convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for the late financier’s 50th birthday.

Meanwhile, as the furore over the Epstein saga grew, especially among MAGA supporters, Trump reversed course and asked his attorney-general to release more documents related to the case, pending court approval.

US President Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch.Credit: AP, Bloomberg

The Journal reported Trump had signed a letter in a leather-bound book organised by Epstein’s friend Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003, and that the book formed part of the files examined by the Justice Department during its sex-trafficking investigation of Epstein and Maxwell.

Trump’s letter was “framed by the outline of a naked woman”, the newspaper reported, including small arcs depicting her breasts. The text reportedly took the form of an imagined conversation between the two men.

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.”

Donald: “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.”

Trump and Epstein were friends in the 1990s and mixed in the same New York finance circles. But Trump has maintained their relationship deteriorated at some point in the following decade and at times has claimed he only “knew” Epstein and was “not a fan”.

Ahead of the Journal’s story being published, rumours swirled in Washington that the paper was about to publish a significant story about the president and Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 at the age of 66.

Jeffrey Epstein in 2017.Credit: AP

Trump denied he wrote the letter or drew the picture in the Epstein birthday book.

“The Wall Street Journal printed a FAKE letter, supposedly to Epstein,” he posted on Truth Social.

“These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures.

“I told Rupert Murdoch it was a Scam, that he shouldn’t print this Fake Story. But he did, and now I’m going to sue his ass off, and that of his third rate newspaper.”

The Australian-born Murdoch bought the storied business newspaper from the Bancroft family in 2007. It is part of the News Corp empire now run by his son Lachlan.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt released a statement accusing the Journal of a “hatchet job”, and doubling down on Trump’s denials of the document’s veracity.

“The WSJ refused to show us the letter and conceded they don’t even have it in their possession when we asked them to verify the alleged document they’re basing their ENTIRE fake story on,” she said.

“When has President Trump ever spoken like the conversation alleged in the fake WSJ story? That’s not at all how he speaks or writes.”

Leavitt accused the newspaper of knowingly publishing a smear against the president and said there was a “co-ordinated hoax” at play by the Democrats and the “fake news”.

The Wall Street Journal declined to comment.

The story comes at a critical time for Trump, amid ructions in his MAGA base over the Epstein affair and the administration’s refusal to release more documents related to the investigation.

A contingent of MAGA supporters believes Epstein did not kill himself in prison but was murdered as part of a “deep state” ploy to cover up his crimes and protect members of the liberal elite.

The FBI and Department of Justice say there is no further credible information to provide, no evidence Epstein met foul play, and no evidence he kept a “client list”.

This week, Trump tried to draw a line under the saga and attacked his own supporters for buying into “bullshit” he said was spread by the Democrats to damage him.

But on Thursday night (Washington time) he changed course and said he had asked for more documents to be released.

“Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney-General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval,” he posted on Truth Social.

“This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!”

Bondi said she was ready to request that a court unseal the relevant documents as soon as Friday (Saturday AEST).

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