Overview

• In a motion filed July 28, Trump asked a judge to depose Rupert Murdoch within 15 days and to compel production of all related communications for his $10 billion defamation suit.
• His lawyers argue that Murdoch’s advanced age and recent health scares could render him unavailable for trial testimony without expedited questioning.
• Trump’s filing claims he contacted Murdoch before publication to warn that the alleged 2003 birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein was fake and that Murdoch said he would “take care of it.”
• Judge Darrin P. Gayles has set an August 4 deadline for Murdoch’s response and has yet to finalize a broader discovery schedule.
• A Dow Jones spokesperson affirmed full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of the Wall Street Journal’s reporting and vowed to defend vigorously against the suit.