Donald Trump threatens to sue Rupert Murdoch, Wall Street Journal over ‘fake’ Jeffrey Epstein letter

US President Donald Trump has announced he will sue one of Rupert Murdoch’s US newspapers over a “fake” report that was published, claiming Mr Trump sent a scandalous birthday letter to disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Mr Trump wrote Epstein a birthday message in 2003 that was accompanied by a drawing of a naked woman.

According to the article, the sketch depicted a woman’s breasts, with the name “Donald” signed in place of pubic hair.

The message reportedly read: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”

The US President has strongly denied having written such a letter or producing the drawing.

In a fiery post on Mr Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, the US President said: “The Wall Street Journal printed a FAKE letter, supposedly to Epstein. 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.”

Only a few hours earlier, Mr Trump said that Mr Murdoch was personally warned that if the letter was printed, he and the newspaper would be sued. According to the Truth Social post, Mr Murdoch said he would “take care of it, but obviously, did not have the power to do so.”

In response to the story, Mr Trump says he has asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce all pertinent grand jury testimony in the Jeffrey Epstein case, subject to court approval.

“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. This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Shortly after, Ms Bondi took to X to say that the Justice Department was ready to move the court on Friday, US time, 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.

Mr Trump has been facing pressure from some of his supporters and renewed public scrutiny on the convicted sex offender’s connections to powerful figures.

Epstein, a wealthy financier, was facing federal charges of sex trafficking minors when he died by suicide in jail in 2019. He had pleaded not guilty, and the case was dismissed after his death.

The topic returned to the news last week after the Trump Administration reversed course on its pledge to release documents it had previously suggested would offer major revelations about Epstein and his alleged clientele.

Earlier on Thursday, Mr Trump’s press secretary told reporters he would not recommend appointing a special prosecutor in the Epstein case.

“The President would not recommend a special prosecutor in the Epstein case. That’s how he feels,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Ms Leavitt said Mr Trump had already directed the Justice Department and Ms Bondi to conduct an “exhaustive review of all files”, dismissing the renewed interest in Epstein as politically motivated and accusing Democrats of ignoring the issue during their time in power.

On Wednesday, Mr Trump attacked supporters who have been critical of his administration’s handling of the Epstein case.

“Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore!” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Later in the day, he said Ms Bondi should release whatever she thinks is credible.

“Whatever’s credible, she can release,” he told reporters. “If a document’s there that’s credible, she can release. I think it’s good.”

With AP, Reuters.