What to know about the latest twists in the Trump, Epstein saga
He filed the lawsuit the day after directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce more Epstein documents amid public clamor for the records - a fascination Trump said he doesn't understand about what he called a "pretty boring" case.
And on July 19, Trump doubted the upcoming records release will satisfy his critics.
"It will always be more, more, more," Trump said on social media.
Here's what to know about the latest developments in Trump's dealings with the continued interest in the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender who died in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
What does Trump want?
Trump wants $10 billion in damages from the Wall Street Journal, its parent company, owner and two reporters claiming libel and slander.
A $10 billion award would far exceed the largest defamation judgments and settlements in recent history, according to Reuters.
More: Trump sues WSJ, Rupert Murdoch and two reporters for Epstein letter story
To win, Trump has to prove the Wall Street Journal acted with "actual malice," a standard set by the Supreme Court in 1964.
The court in March declined an appeal from top Republican donor and former casino magnate Steve Wynn asking the court to overturn that ruling.
What did the Wall Street Journal report?
At issue is a story published July 17 describing a letter from Trump that the Journal wrote was part of a leather-bound birthday book with dozens of other letters that was presented to Epstein in 2003. Trump's letter ends with "Happy Birthday -- and may every day be another wonderful secret," according to the report.
Trump's signature on the letter, which was written in the form of text inside a hand-drawn outline of a nude woman, is "a squiggly 'Donald' below her waist, mimicking pubic hair," according to the Journal.
How has the Wall Street Journal responded to Trump's lawsuit?
A Dow Jones spokesperson said July 18 that the Wall Street Journal stands by its story. "We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit," the spokesperson said.
More: Trump's team promised transparency on Epstein. Here's what they delivered.
What new Epstein files does Trump want released?
After Trump on July 17 directed Bondi to produce more Epstein documents, federal prosecutors followed up with a motion filed July 18 in federal court in Manhattan seeking to unseal grand jury transcripts in the criminal cases against Epstein and his former associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
"Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval," Trump wrote on social media.
More: At Trump's request, Justice Department asks court to release Epstein grand jury records
Epstein's federal sex-trafficking case was still pending when he was found dead in a jail cell in 2019.
It was a partial about-face for Trump, after his Justice Department released a memo July 7 saying no further Epstein disclosure was warranted. But it's not clear what portion of the government's Epstein files are taken up by that testimony.
When will the new information become public?
It could take time for the courts to release any records, and the grand jury documents are just a portion of the unreleased files.
"What about videos, photographs and other recordings?" Democratic Rep. Daniel Goldman, a former prosecutor, wrote on social media in response to Bondi saying she'd seek the release of grand jury testimony. "What about FBI... (witness interviews)? What about texts and emails?"
Meanwhile, Congress also is considering another, non-binding, resolution calling for the release of Epstein records. The House Rules Committee advanced the resolution July 17 on a party-line vote. Democrats opposed the measure because it is non-binding.
What Epstein information was previously released?
Trump previously accused the Biden administration of hiding a list of Epstein clients.
he Department of Justice teased that more files would be coming out, but then on July 7, Bondi said there was no client list and no further disclosure was needed.
More: Jeffrey Epstein had no 'client list,' died by suicide, DOJ and FBI conclude
That led to a wave of backlash from Trump's MAGA base.
More: Trump bows to Epstein critics clamoring for more records. Will it calm MAGA's fury?
What was Trump's reletionship with Epstein?
Trump's association with Epstein, whom he knew socially, has dogged him since his first term in office. In 2019, Trump said he'd had a "falling out" with Epstein, whom he described as a "Palm Beach fixture," in the mid-2000s.
Trump hasn't explained why, but a 2019 Washington Post story describes a power struggle the two men had that year over an oceanfront Palm Beach mansion.
In 2022, Trump called Epstein a "terrific guy."
"He's a lot of fun to be with," Trump told New York magazine. "It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side."
Is Trump in the Epstein files?
Trump has already appeared in legal documents concerning Epstein's crimes, but never in a way that implicates him.
In the 1990s, Trump rode on aircraft owned by Epstein, according to flight logs released in two lawsuits. But that was 30-plus years ago.
In Palm Beach County state attorney documents, an image of a message pad communication seized in a Palm Beach police search appeared, but there is nothing more than Trump's name and a phone number.
Contributing: Aysha Bagchi, Joey Garrison, Zac Anderson, Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, Kinsey Crowly, Holly Baltz.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Spectator
an hour ago
- Spectator
Japan's prime minister is on borrowed time
'It is a difficult situation and we have to take it very humbly and seriously'. This was the typically understated and solemnly delivered verdict of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba after his party and their coalition partners lost their majority in the Upper House elections on Sunday. It is the kind of wording used by Japanese doctors to inform patients that their illness is terminal (they never tell you directly). Ishiba insists he will stay on as PM, but long-term, he is probably doomed. Ishiba's party, the Liberal Democrats (LDP), and their partners Komeito, needed fifty seats in yesterday's election to hang on to a majority, but managed only 47. They may need to reach out to the fragmented opposition parties for some sort of enlarged coalition or issue-by-issue cooperation agreement. It is a mess and there is no obvious solution, except a general election. The problem is that there is nothing that is both new and wholly credible available The timing is awful. Trade negotiations with America are at an acute stage – Trump's tariff deadline is 1 August and unless some sort of deal can be reached by then, a 25 per cent levy will be imposed on Japanese cars. The Japanese automobile industry employs 6 million people domestically and 1.7 million cars were sold in the States last year. The extent to which the Japanese automakers can absorb or work around the tariffs is unclear, but many here are understandably nervous. Time is running out. To be fair to Ishiba, he appears to have done what he could. His trade envoy, Ryosei Akazawa, has visited Washington seven times. And there is still time for a compromise – just (US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant is in Japan now). But Ishiba, who had a weak hand before the election, has an even weaker one now. His immediate options are either to step down (or be stepped down – he is vulnerable to the elder statesmen in his party) or cobble together a new coalition. Either scenario would make a last-minute trade deal with the US far more difficult. It probably wasn't the Trump tariffs that really hurt the LDP, though. Two issues dominated news coverage of this election. The cost of living (rising prices and stagnant wages) was a constant theme, with the various parties either calling for tax cuts or handouts as a response. The LDP favoured the latter, with a mooted 20,000 yen (£100) payment to each citizen. This backfired, being seen as gimmicky, likely to make no difference, or even tantamount to a bribe. Then there was the issue of foreigners in Japan. This has raised the eyebrows and heckles of many expats here and caught the attention and opprobrium of the wider world, but it is important to put it in context. Although Japan still has a relatively low level of immigration (only 3.8 million foreigners reside here out of a population of 127 million) that represents a 100 per cent increase on just 13 years ago. A feeling of nervousness among some, that Japan is heading in the direction of a western European style multiculturalism that nobody consented to, is perhaps understandable. That said, some of the rhetoric, especially from one of the election's winners, the Sanseito party (usually referred to as 'far right' or 'populist' but I refuse to use these prejudicial and increasingly meaningless terms – let's call them conservative) has been provocative. Sanseito's leader, a former supermarket manager and English teacher, Sohei Kamiya, has talked of a 'silent invasion'. Sanseito increased its Upper House presence from one to 14 seats. Sanseito describe themselves as a 'Japan first party' and Kamiya has vehemently denied that this means they are anti-foreigner, only that they wish to prioritise the Japanese and end what they call the 'preferential treatment of foreigners' without specifying where this supposedly occurs. With a record 37 million visitors in 2024, foreigners are a far more visible presence in the country, but a JNN (Japan News Network) TV poll found that only 6 per cent of citizens rated immigration as a key issue, so it is not clear that is where Sanseito's appeal really lies. Just as important, perhaps, was the continuing Japanese ennui with the LDP. Years of drift, a succession of uninspiring leaders, and many, many scandals (such as the revelation that most of the LDP were in cahoots with the exceedingly murky Unification church) seem to have finally induced at least some voters (it is important not to exaggerate, the LDP remain the largest party in Japan) to try something new. The problem is that there is nothing that is both new and wholly credible available. Sanseito may not quite deserve the demonisation of the establishment, but many see them as more of a highly energised protest party than a functioning vehicle for national renewal. They are not at the gonzo end of Japanese politics – they have a sophisticated membership and vote-gathering operation – but they are very much a work in progress. Much as with the Tories and Reform, at least when it first emerged, it is still entirely not clear if voters see Sanseito as the future, or as a way to send a message to the LDP, whose condition is difficult but perhaps not terminal, to get its act together. Japan does, however, need something new – or at least a significantly improved version of something old.
STV News
2 hours ago
- STV News
Russia open to peace with Ukraine but ‘our goals' must be achieved, says Kremlin
Russia is open to peace with Ukraine but achieving 'our goals' remains a priority, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said, days after US President Donald Trump gave Moscow a deadline to agree to a ceasefire or face tougher sanctions. Peskov and other Russian officials have repeatedly rejected accusations from Kyiv and its western partners of stalling peace talks. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to intensify its long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities, with more drones launched in a single night than during some entire months in 2024, and analysts say the barrages are likely to escalate. Peskov told state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin: '(Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible. This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy. 'The main thing for us is to achieve our goals. Our goals are clear.' PA Media The Kremlin has insisted any peace deal should see Ukraine withdraw from the four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but never fully captured. It also wants Ukraine to renounce its bid to join Nato and accept strict limits on its armed forces, demands Kyiv and its Western allies have rejected. In his nightly address on Saturday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said his officials had proposed a new round of peace talks this week. Russian state media reported on Sunday that no date had yet been set for the negotiations but that Istanbul would likely remain the host city. Trump threatened Russia on July 14 with steep tariffs and announced a rejuvenated pipeline for American weapons to reach Ukraine, hardening his stance towards Moscow after months of frustration following unsuccessful negotiations aimed at ending the war. The direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul resulted in several rounds of prisoner exchanges, but little else. Trump said he would implement 'severe tariffs' unless a peace deal is reached within 50 days. He provided few details on how they would be implemented, but suggested they would target Russia's trading partners in an effort to isolate Moscow in the global economy. PA Media In addition, Trump said European allies would buy 'billions and billions' of dollars of US military equipment to be transferred to Ukraine, replenishing the besieged country's supplies of weapons. Included in the plan are Patriot air defence systems, a top priority for Ukraine as it fends off Russian drones and missiles. Doubts were recently raised about Trump's commitment to supply Ukraine when the Pentagon paused shipments over concerns that US stockpiles were running low. Elsewhere, Ukraine's air force said it shot down 18 of 57 Shahed-type and decoy drones launched by Russia overnight into Sunday, with seven more disappearing from radar. Two women were injured in Zaporizhzhia, a southern Ukrainian region partly occupied by Russia, when a drone struck their house, according to the regional military administration. Two more civilians were injured in Izium, north-eastern Ukraine, after a drone hit a residential building, local Ukrainian officials said. PA Media Later on Sunday, drones struck a leafy square in the centre of Sumy, wounding a woman and her seven-year-old son, officials said. The strike also damaged a power line, leaving some 100 households without electricity, according to Serhii Krivosheienko of the municipal military administration. Meanwhile, Russia's defence ministry said its forces had shot down 93 Ukrainian drones targeting Russian territory overnight, including at least 15 that appeared to be headed for Moscow. At least 13 more drones were downed on the approach to the capital on Sunday, according to mayor Sergei Sobyanin. He said one drone had struck a residential building in Zelenograd, on the outskirts of Moscow, damaging an apartment but causing no casualties. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Cleveland Guardians respond to Trump about restoring Indians name
Nope. The dialog was back in the news Sunday, July 20, courtesy of President Donald Trump. Via a post on Trump's Truth Social, the president claimed that the Native American people want the names reverted back. "There is a big clamoring for this," wrote Trump. "Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen. Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them. Times are different now than they were three or four years ago." "The Washington "Whatever's" should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team. There is a big clamoring for this. Likewise, the Cleveland Indians, one of the six original baseball teams, with a storied past. Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen. Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them. Times are different now than they were three or four years ago. We are a Country of passion and common sense. OWNERS, GET IT DONE!!!" - Donald Trump via Truth Social Trump also expressed his own desire to see the names changed back, calling on each team's owners to "GET IT DONE!!!" However, despite the president's pleas, the Guardians seem uninterested in going back in time. Cleveland Guardians respond to Trump's comments In a meeting with reporters Sunday, Guardians' president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said that he was unaware of Trump's statements prior to the meeting and that changing the name back to the 'Indians' was "not something [he has been] tracking or [has] been paying a lot of attention to." "We've gotten the opportunity to build the brand as the Guardians over the last four years and are excited about the future," said Antonetti. Cleveland's PBO is obviously hinting at the idea that the team does not plan on returning to the Indians' moniker any time soon. Antonetti did note that he understands the different perspectives people may have on the name change, but did not provide any indication that the team plans on reverting to its former name. Trump's history with Cleveland baseball Trump has been involved with Cleveland's MLB franchise for over four decades at this point. The President even attempted to buy the team back in 1983, but his deal was eventually rejected. Since the name change, Trump has been adamant that the change was a mistake, claiming that the decision was made only as a means to be "politically correct" when it was first announced. During his election campaign in 2024, Trump continued expressing his discontent with the change. While speaking at a rally in Ohio, Trump compared the name 'Cleveland Guardians' to a group of people "in charge of a trust fund." COMMANDERS: Reveal alternate uniforms that nod to their Super Bowl glory Have the Washington Commanders made a statement? Not yet. That said, they likely will not be reverting to their former name either. Since new Commanders owner Josh Harris took control of the team in 2023, he has maintained a staunch stance that his team will not be returning to their former name. Harris has previously stated that the name has been "embraced by our team, by our culture, by our coaching staff," expressing a strong connection with the brand and looking to build a future with the organization as it currently is. That said, earlier this month, the Commanders unveiled an alternate uniform for the upcoming season that will take their title-starved fans back to the Joe Gibbs glory years. The Commanders are set to wear what is basically the same look the team had while reaching four Super Bowls between the 1982 and '91 seasons, winning the Lombardi Trophy three times during that span. Contributing: Nate Davis The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news -- fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
