US President Donald Trump vowed Friday to sue The Wall Street Journal over a report claiming he wrote a sexually suggestive letter to Jeffrey Epstein, adding to his legal battles against major news organizations as his administration faces backlash for closing the Epstein case despite transparency promises.
The report, published Thursday, claimed Trump had written a note with a sexual drawing to Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003, an assertion that proved particularly controversial in the aftermath of the Trump administration’s efforts to walk back plans to publicly release case files and evidence related to the Epstein case.
When he died in federal custody in 2019, Epstein was facing federal sex trafficking charges involving minors in a case shrouded with rumors of connections with powerful figures. His death, reportedly by suicide, left innumerable unanswered questions about his crimes and associates.
In the years since, the Epstein’s life and death have given way to numerous conspiracy theories and calls for transparency.
Asked about the case during his presidential campaign in 2024, Trump indicated that if reelected, he would release the Epstein files. Shortly after Trump’s reelection, the US Justice Department quoted Attorney General Pamela Bondi as having said: “This Department of Justice is following through on President Trump’s commitment to transparency and lifting the veil on the disgusting actions of Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators.”
The same communication quoted FBI Director Kash Patel as saying: “The FBI is entering a new era—one that will be defined by integrity, accountability, and the unwavering pursuit of justice… There will be no cover-ups, no missing documents, and no stone left unturned.”
An initial tranche of documents—most of which had already been publicly available—was released under the auspices of the “first phase of declassified Epstein files,” suggesting more would follow.
But earlier this month, the Trump administration abruptly closed the case with no further releases. According to a joint statement issued by the FBI and Department of Justice, an “exhaustive review” found no further evidence suitable for public release.
Pushback was immediate from Trump supporters who had voted him into office on his promises to root out corruption and cover-ups. Nearly two-thirds of Republicans believe the Trump administration is hiding details about the Epstein case, according to a Reuters/IPSOS poll conducted this week.
The case has struck a nerve in the White House, prompting Trump to disavow his own supporters.
Following the release of The Wall Street Journal report, Trump disputed the report and vowed in multiple posts on his Truth Social account to sue the newspaper and its owner, Rupert Murdoch. In the first such post, he described his and his administration’s efforts to prevent the story from going to print, and then vowed to file suit as he has against multiple other news outlets, saying: “The Press has to learn to be truthful, and not rely on sources that probably don’t even exist. President Trump has already beaten George Stephanopoulos/ABC, 60 Minutes/CBS, and others, and looks forward to suing and holding accountable the once great Wall Street Journal.”
Critics have warned that Trump’s legal battles against media organizations are a threat to the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
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