Trump says Murdoch told him he would handle story on Epstein ties

In a refiled $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, Donald Trump says that Rupert Murdoch told him he would "handle" a story about Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein after the U.S. president called him to complain.



The lawsuit is one of several Trump has brought in his personal capacity against news organizations, part of what critics say is a wider pressure campaign against the media. Last month, a judge dismissed an earlier version of the lawsuit over legal deficiencies but allowed Trump to revise and refile.



Trump's lawsuit says the Journal tarnished his reputation with an article describing a birthday card to deceased sex offender Epstein as bearing Trump’s signature. Trump and his lawyers said the card is fake. Lawmakers investigating Epstein’s case later released a copy provided by his estate.