Donald Trump's legal team has refiled a $10bn lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal over a story alleging he sent a 'bawdy' letter to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, after a Florida judge dismissed the case last month. The move restarts a legal battle pitting the US president against Rupert Murdoch, owner of the Journal's publisher Dow Jones.
The amended complaint, seven pages longer than the original, claims the letter does not exist. 'The reason for those failures is that Defendants did not have access to any such letter when the Article was published, which is a fact because no authentic letter or drawing exists,' it states. The letter was released by the House oversight committee in September after being provided by Epstein's estate.
Trump's team argues the Journal acted with actual malice, citing a claim that Murdoch told Trump 'I will handle it' after the president called to say the story was untrue. They also reference comments from Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who said she did not recall the letter. The original story noted Maxwell 'didn't respond to a letter requesting an interview sent to her in prison'.
In April, Judge Darrin P Gayles dismissed the initial suit without prejudice, ruling Trump's team had not adequately argued actual malice. He noted evidence the Journal sought to verify the letter's authenticity. Trump's request for limited discovery to gather evidence before refiling was denied as improper.
A spokesperson for Trump called it a 'powerhouse lawsuit', saying: 'The President will continue to hold those who mislead the American People with Fake News and smears accountable for their actions.' A Dow Jones spokesperson has been contacted for comment.
