BY MIRABEL ODETA
Donald Trump has refiled a sweeping defamation lawsuit seeking at least $10 billion in damages against The Wall Street Journal, escalating an already contentious legal battle over reporting related to his alleged ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The amended filing comes after a federal judge dismissed an earlier version of the case, citing legal deficiencies.
The lawsuit, filed in Miami federal court, is part of a broader pattern of legal action brought by Trump in his personal capacity against major media organizations. Critics argue these cases reflect an escalating pressure campaign targeting press institutions, while Trump and his legal team maintain that the reporting in question is false and damaging.
At the center of the dispute is an article published by the Journal that described a birthday card allegedly sent to Epstein bearing Trump’s signature. Trump has denied the authenticity of the card, even after lawmakers reviewing Epstein-related materials made portions of the document public during their investigation.
In the amended complaint, Trump’s legal team argues that the defendants “recklessly disregarded” the truth or deliberately avoided verifying the accuracy of their reporting. The filing claims the publication caused “overwhelming” reputational and financial harm and asserts that the Journal acted with actual malice, a high legal standard required in defamation cases involving public figures.
Named as defendants in the lawsuit are Rupert Murdoch, News Corp, Dow Jones & Company, News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson, and two Journal reporters, Khadeeja Safdar and Joseph Palazzolo. Trump is seeking at least $10 billion in damages, the same figure cited in his original filing before it was dismissed.
The earlier version of the lawsuit was thrown out in April by U.S. District Court Judge Darrin P. Gayles, an appointee of former President Barack Obama. The judge ruled that Trump had not sufficiently met the “actual malice” threshold required under U.S. defamation law for public figures, which demands proof that the defendants knew the information was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
Dow Jones has defended its reporting, saying it stands by the accuracy and integrity of the story and intends to vigorously contest the lawsuit in court.
Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, has remained a central figure in widespread political controversy and conspiracy theories. His case has continued to fuel public debate, particularly among Trump supporters who have long questioned the extent of Epstein’s connections to powerful individuals. Trump has previously stated that he severed ties with Epstein years before the financier’s legal troubles became public in 2006.
The lawsuit is one of several legal actions Trump has pursued against major news organizations, including cases involving The New York Times, BBC, and the Des Moines Register. These outlets have denied wrongdoing and are actively defending themselves in court.
Beyond the courtroom, tensions between Trump and the media have also played out in broader policy debates. His administration has faced criticism from press freedom groups for restricting access to certain government agencies and considering regulatory actions that opponents say could pressure critical media organizations. The White House, however, has maintained that Trump has expanded press access and is among the most accessible presidents in U.S. history.
As the case proceeds, it is expected to add further strain to already fraught relations between Trump and major media institutions, while also raising broader questions about defamation standards, press accountability, and political influence over journalism in the United States.
Original article
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