Trump Files $10 Billion Defamation Claim Against WSJ Over Epstein Report

A former U. S. president has filed a new lawsuit, demanding at least $10 billion in damages from the Wall Street Journal. The suit follows an earlier complaint that a federal judge dismissed because it did not meet the legal standard for defamation against public figures. The lawsuit claims that an article in the newspaper accused Trump of signing a birthday card for Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in 2019. Trump’s lawyers argue the card was fake and that the paper published false statements recklessly. In the revised complaint, Trump names several defendants: Rupert Murdoch, Dow Jones, News Corp and its CEO Robert Thomson. He also names two Journal reporters, Khadeeja Safdar and Joseph Palazzolo, saying they harmed his reputation and finances.Dow Jones has responded that it believes its reporting was accurate and will defend itself vigorously in court. The case is part of a series of defamation actions Trump has pursued against media outlets, including the New York Times and the BBC. Critics say these lawsuits are a tactic to silence critical coverage. The judge who dismissed the first complaint is an Obama appointee, and he ruled that Trump had not proven “actual malice, ” the standard required for public figures. The lawsuit also touches on broader tensions between Trump’s administration and the press, as the former president has been accused of restricting media access to government agencies.