Donald Trump's legal team has refiled a $10bn (£7.7bn) lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, alleging that a 2025 article about a letter to Jeffrey Epstein damaged his reputation. The move comes after a Florida judge dismissed the original case in April, allowing Trump to submit new evidence.
The lawsuit, which also names Dow Jones and reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo, claims the newspaper acted with actual malice by publishing a story about a 'bawdy' letter from Trump to Epstein. Trump denies the letter exists. The amended complaint argues that the Journal omitted Trump's denial, though the original article noted it.
In April, Judge Darrin P Gayles ruled that Trump's team had not adequately shown the Journal knew the story was false. He dismissed the case 'without prejudice', giving Trump time to refile. The new lawsuit is seven pages longer and includes claims that Ghislaine Maxwell, an Epstein associate, said she had no knowledge of the letter.
The letter, featuring a drawing of a naked woman, was released by the House oversight committee in September after being provided by Epstein's estate. Trump's legal team says the Journal intentionally ignored evidence that the letter was fake. A spokesperson for Dow Jones has been contacted for comment.
Trump has a history of suing media outlets, including settlements with CBS and ABC News, and ongoing cases against the New York Times and the BBC. The refiled lawsuit seeks $10bn in compensation, though the basis for this figure is unclear.
