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Donald Trump has been under pressure from his Republican supporters over his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. (Reuters: Jonathan Ernst)
Donald Trump has filed a libel lawsuit against News Corp founder Rupert Murdoch and the Wall Street Journal newspaper.
It comes after the paper published a report alleging Mr Trump wrote a suggestive 50th birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein.
The US president has been facing a backlash amongst Republicans over his administration's handling of the deceased financier's case.
Donald Trump has followed through on his threat to sue Rupert Murdoch, filing a lawsuit against the Australian-born media mogul and his US newspaper, the Wall Street Journal.
The US president is also suing News Corp — which publishes the Journal as well as many of Australia's biggest-selling newspapers — and two journalists who reported on a note Mr Trump purportedly wrote to paedophile-financier Jeffrey Epstein in 2003.
The lawsuit is seeking at least $US10 billion in damages ($15 billion).
The full complaint, lodged in a Florida court under federal libel laws on Friday afternoon, local time, was not immediately available. The ABC has contacted News Corp, the Wall Street Journal and the reporters for comment.
The lawsuit's filing comes a day after The Wall Street Journal published the story, which said a 50th birthday greeting that Mr Trump allegedly sent Epstein included a sexually suggestive drawing and a reference to secrets they shared.
Mr Trump has vehemently denied the Journal report, which the ABC has not independently verified. He had warned Mr Murdoch, the founder of News Corp, that he planned to sue.
"I look forward to getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in my lawsuit against him and his 'pile of garbage' newspaper, the WSJ. That will be an interesting experience!!!" Mr Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Friday morning.
The Journal said the letter, bearing Mr Trump's name, was part of a leather-bound birthday book for Epstein that included messages from other high-profile people.
Donald and Melania Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2000. (Getty Images: Davidoff Studios)
The newspaper said the letter contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appeared to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker.
It said the letter concludes "Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret," and featured the signature "Donald".
Allegations that Epstein had been sexually abusing girls became public in 2006 — after the birthday book was produced — and he was arrested that year before accepting a plea deal. Epstein died in 2019 in jail after he was arrested for a second time and charged with sex-trafficking conspiracy.
Some of Mr Trump's most loyal supporters reacted in fury after the Justice Department earlier this month concluded there was no evidence to support several long-held conspiracy theories about the disgraced financier's clients and death in prison.
Attorney General Pam Bondi had pledged months earlier to reveal major revelations about Epstein, including "a lot of names" and "a lot of flight logs".
With pressure to release the Epstein files building, Mr Trump directed Ms Bondi to ask a court to release grand jury testimony about Epstein.
The US government on Friday filed a motion in a New York court to unseal those grand jury transcripts. The Department of Justice said the criminal cases against Epstein and his former associate Ghislaine Maxwell are a matter of public interest.
The Epstein case files held by the Trump administration. (Reuters: Kevin Lamarque)
If they are released, the grand jury documents may fall short of what many of Mr Trump's supporters have sought, including case files held by the administration.
Grand juries review evidence from prosecutors to determine whether people should be indicted for crimes. This includes hearsay, improperly obtained information, and other evidence that prosecutors would not be allowed to present at trial.
Transcripts of grand jury proceedings are generally kept secret under federal criminal procedure rules, with limited exceptions.
Disclosure of grand jury matters, other than deliberations and votes, is allowed to government personnel who can help government lawyers enforce federal criminal laws.
A judge may allow disclosure of grand jury matters in connection with judicial proceedings, or at the request of defendants who believe it could lead to the dismissal of their indictments.
Some material released from grand jury proceedings would likely be redacted, or blacked out, because of privacy or security concerns.
Pam Bondi's department has asked a court to release the grand jury testimony. (Reuters: Ken Cedeno )
The demands by Mr Trump's supporters for more Epstein-related documents have caused a rare fracture within the president's base. Supporters, inspired by conservative talk show hosts and podcasters, have said the federal government is concealing records to protect wealthy and influential people with ties to Epstein.
Trump has pushed back, calling the matter a hoax.
When Donald Trump said the Epstein client list didn't exist, he hit a line MAGA seem unwilling to follow him over.
On Thursday, shortly after the Journal report, Mr Trump directed Ms Bondi to "produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval. This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!"
Shortly after Mr Trump's statement, Ms Bondi said on X that the Justice Department was ready to ask the court on Friday to unseal the grand jury transcripts.
"President Trump — we are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts," Ms Bondi wrote.
Reuters/ABC
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Trump sues Murdoch over Epstein birthday greeting report – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
