After Epstein report in newspaper: Trump demands swift Murdoch testimony - because of his age

US President Trump is under pressure in the Epstein case. A report in the Wall Street Journal is adding fuel to the fire. The White House is suing to prevent its publication. WSJ owner Murdoch is now being urged to testify as soon as possible because he is 94 years old and reportedly not in the best of health.

US President Donald Trump is pushing for a swift deposition from the 94-year-old in his legal dispute with media mogul Rupert Murdoch. In a court filing regarding the Republican's lawsuit, Trump's lawyer cites Murdoch's advanced age and alleged previous "health issues" as reasons.

Trump filed a lawsuit a week and a half ago, demanding billions from the extremely wealthy businessman Murdoch, whose media empire also includes the conservative US newspaper "Wall Street Journal." The paper had reported on Trump's connection to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The lawsuit involved an alleged congratulatory letter with salacious content for Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003, which allegedly bore Trump's name. Trump denies authorship of the letter.

Epstein, who had systematically abused minors for many years, committed suicide in his prison cell in 2019 at the age of 66. The death of the well-connected financier and the official autopsy report sparked speculation in parts of US society because Epstein had excellent contacts in American high society. Celebrities and billionaires frequented his home—even Trump spent time with Epstein, as several party videos show.

So far, Trump has refused to release the Epstein files, despite promising to do so during his campaign. As a result, the US president is currently under massive pressure. He is being criticized even within the ranks of Republicans and his otherwise loyal electorate.