Trump's Lawyers Seek Quick Deposition of Rupert Murdoch in Defamation Case

Donald Trump’s legal team has filed a request in federal court to compel media mogul Rupert Murdoch to provide a deposition within 15 days in the ongoing defamation lawsuit over a Wall Street Journal article. The article in question alleged a connection between Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.
Trump’s lawyers argue that Murdoch, 94, should testify promptly due to his advanced age and recent health concerns, which they claim could make him unavailable for in-person testimony at trial. They also assert that Murdoch’s direct involvement in editorial decisions at News Corp, including the article in question, makes his testimony critical to the case.
The filing highlights that Murdoch spoke with Trump directly about the article before its publication and that Trump had informed Murdoch the referenced letter in the article was fake. Trump’s lawyers allege that Murdoch’s involvement demonstrates the defendants’ “actual malice” and intent to publish false and defamatory statements about the president.
The case underscores broader tensions between Trump and the media, with the president accusing outlets like the Wall Street Journal of bias and misinformation. Trump’s legal team is seeking to establish that the article was published with reckless disregard for the truth, a key element in proving defamation.
This legal maneuver aims to strengthen Trump’s case by leveraging Murdoch’s potential insights into the editorial process and decision-making behind the controversial article.

Published: 7/28/2025