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Trump Seeks Quick Murdoch Deposition in $10B Lawsuit

8/1/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Donald Trump is pushing for a swift deposition from Rupert Murdoch in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, citing the media mogul's age and health. As Trump seeks to refute ties to Jeffrey Epstein, experts warn he may struggle to prove the WSJ's claims were untrue.

History

Historical Context

The 2001 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan established the "actual malice" standard for defamation cases involving public figures, requiring proof of knowledge of falsity. This precedent is echoed in Donald Trump's 2023 defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, where he must demonstrate that the claims against him are false, potentially reshaping media accountability.

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Story summary

Donald Trump is pushing for a swift deposition from Rupert Murdoch in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, citing the media mogul's age and health. As Trump seeks to refute ties to Jeffrey Epstein, experts warn he may struggle to prove the WSJ's claims were untrue.

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