Two civil lawsuits sit at the center of the Trump-Epstein lawsuit story. The first, filed in 2016 by an anonymous “Jane Doe,” accused Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein of sexually assaulting the plaintiff at age 13 in 1994; it was voluntarily dismissed days before the presidential election and never refiled. The second, filed by Trump in July 2025, is a $10 billion defamation suit against The Wall Street Journal over its reporting on an alleged birthday letter to Epstein. That case was dismissed once, refiled with an amended complaint, and remains pending. Trump has denied all allegations of wrongdoing tied to Epstein, and no criminal charges have ever been brought against him in connection with Epstein.
The 2016 Jane Doe Suit Against Trump and Epstein
An anonymous plaintiff sued Trump and Epstein in 2016, alleging that Trump sexually assaulted her in 1994, when she was 13 years old, at parties Epstein hosted at his Manhattan residence. Trump called the allegations “fabrications.” Epstein also denied them.
The case moved through three separate filings in less than a year. A plaintiff using the name “Katie Johnson” first filed pro se in federal court in Los Angeles in April 2016. U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee dismissed that complaint in May 2016, ruling it failed to state valid claims under federal civil rights statutes.1CourtListener. Katie Johnson v. Donald J. Trump A second version, filed in New York on June 20, 2016, was withdrawn in September after apparently never being served on the defendants.2Courthouse News Service. Trump Rape Accuser Dismisses New York Case
The third complaint was filed in the Southern District of New York on September 30, 2016, this time with new legal counsel and an added defamation count. Judge Ronnie Abrams set a status conference for December 16, 2016.3The Guardian. Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Alleged Rape Lawsuit It never happened. On November 4, 2016, four days before Election Day, attorneys Thomas Meagher and Cheney Mason filed a one-page notice of voluntary dismissal with no explanation.4Politico. Donald Trump Rape Lawsuit Dropped
A Guardian investigation found that the lawsuit appeared to have been coordinated by Norm Lubow, a former producer of the Jerry Springer show, and that a publicist for the plaintiff had tried to sell a video of her describing the allegations for $1 million.3The Guardian. Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Alleged Rape Lawsuit The case has not been refiled.
Trump’s $10 Billion Defamation Suit Against the Wall Street Journal
On July 17, 2025, The Wall Street Journal published a story by Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo headlined “Jeffrey Epstein’s Friends Sent Him Bawdy Letters for a 50th Birthday Album. One Was From Donald Trump.” The article described a 2003 leather-bound birthday book compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein’s 50th birthday, reporting that it contained a note bearing Trump’s name alongside a drawing of a naked woman and the message: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”5The New York Times. Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Article
Trump denied writing the note, calling it “a fake thing.” The next day he filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint named Dow Jones, News Corp, Rupert Murdoch, News Corp CEO Robert Thomson, and the two reporters, alleging “glaring failures in journalistic ethics and standards of accurate reporting.”6Reuters. Trump Refiles $10 Billion Defamation Suit Against WSJ Over Report on Epstein Ties7Politico. Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Alleged Epstein Letter Dow Jones said it had “full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”8Courthouse News Service. Trump Sues Over Wall Street Journal Story About Epstein Birthday Card
The Birthday Book at the Center of the Case
The album, titled “The First Fifty Years,” was assembled by Maxwell, who said the idea was inspired by a similar project her mother made for her father, publisher Robert Maxwell. Contributors reportedly included former President Bill Clinton, entrepreneur Leslie Wexner, and attorney Alan Dershowitz.9ABC News. Ghislaine Maxwell on Epstein’s 50th Birthday Book The book was described as professionally bound in brown leather and kept on a bookcase behind Epstein’s desk in his Manhattan townhouse.
Maxwell told Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in an interview that she could not recall whether Trump contributed, and added that while federal prosecutors provided portions of the book during her trial discovery, “there was none of Mr. Trump.”9ABC News. Ghislaine Maxwell on Epstein’s 50th Birthday Book The book is not in federal custody; Epstein’s estate holds it. The House Oversight Committee obtained an electronic copy from the estate in September 2025 and released a redacted version publicly. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration would welcome expert handwriting analysis and characterized the signature attributed to Trump as inauthentic.10PBS NewsHour. See Epstein’s Full Birthday Book
The First Dismissal
On April 13, 2026, U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles dismissed the lawsuit in a 17-page opinion, ruling that Trump had not plausibly alleged the Journal acted with “actual malice.” Under New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964), a public figure suing for defamation must show the publisher knew the information was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.11CNN. Trump WSJ Lawsuit Epstein Dismissed by Judge
Judge Gayles found the complaint relied on what he called a “formulaic recitation” of legal elements that “comes nowhere close” to that standard. He noted that the Journal had contacted Trump, the FBI, and the Justice Department for comment before publishing, and had included Trump’s denial in the article. Those steps undercut any inference of reckless disregard for the truth.12Jurist. Federal Judge Dismisses Trump Defamation Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal A separate claim for special damages was dismissed because Trump had not alleged specific financial losses. The judge did not rule on whether the birthday letter was authentic, calling that a question of fact not appropriate to resolve at that stage.13The Hill. Judge Dismisses Trump Wall Street Journal Lawsuit
The dismissal was without prejudice, meaning Trump could revise and refile. The defendants had also sought attorney fees under Florida’s anti-SLAPP statute, which is designed to deter lawsuits that punish free speech on public issues. Judge Gayles denied that request without prejudice, reasoning that the court had not yet reached the merits.14CourtListener. Trump v. Dow Jones, S.D. Fla.
The Amended Complaint and the Murdoch Allegation
Trump refiled on May 27, 2026, with an amended complaint seven pages longer than the original.15The Guardian. Trump Refiles $10bn Lawsuit Against WSJ Over Report on Alleged Epstein Ties The new filing kept the same defendants and the same $10 billion demand, but added arguments aimed at clearing the actual-malice bar. Trump’s lawyers argued the Journal never explained how it obtained or verified the letter and that the reporters omitted Maxwell’s statement that she did not recall Trump contributing to the album.16The New York Times. Trump WSJ Defamation Suit $10 Billion
The most notable addition involved Rupert Murdoch directly. According to the amended complaint, after Journal reporters contacted the White House about the story on July 15, 2025, Trump personally called Murdoch to deny signing the letter. Trump alleges Murdoch responded, “I will handle it,” which Trump says he “reasonably interpreted” as a promise the article would not be published.6Reuters. Trump Refiles $10 Billion Defamation Suit Against WSJ Over Report on Epstein Ties Murdoch declined to comment. Dow Jones repeated its confidence in its reporting.16The New York Times. Trump WSJ Defamation Suit $10 Billion
Where the Case Stands
On June 10, 2026, the Journal‘s attorneys moved to dismiss the amended complaint with prejudice, arguing that it “falls woefully short” of the actual-malice standard and repackages arguments the court already rejected. “Failure to investigate is not actual malice,” the defense wrote, pointing to the article itself as evidence of pre-publication outreach. The Journal renewed its request for attorney fees under Florida’s anti-SLAPP law.17Courthouse News Service. The Wall Street Journal Seeks Second Dismissal of Trump Defamation Lawsuit
The case, docketed as Trump v. Murdoch, No. 1:25-cv-23232 (S.D. Fla.), remains pending before Judge Gayles, with no ruling on the second motion to dismiss.18CourtListener. Trump v. Murdoch Docket The reporting that triggered the suit was later recognized as a Pulitzer Prize finalist in Public Service.19The Pulitzer Prizes. Wall Street Journal, Work Led by Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo
The Relationship Behind Both Suits
The social history between the two men supplies the backdrop for both lawsuits. Trump has said he knew Epstein since the late 1980s. The two were filmed together at a Mar-a-Lago party in November 1992. Epstein attended Trump’s 1993 wedding to Marla Maples. Between 1993 and 1997, Trump took at least eight flights on Epstein’s private jet.20ABC News. Timeline of Trump and Epstein’s Relationship In October 2002, Trump described Epstein to New York Magazine as a “terrific guy” who was “a lot of fun to be with,” adding, “It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do.”21PBS NewsHour. The Facts and Timeline of Trump and Epstein’s Falling Out In a 2019 interview, Epstein reportedly called Trump his “closest friend for 10 years.”22CNN. Trump-Epstein Relationship Timeline
The reasons the relationship ended are disputed. Trump has offered several accounts at different times: that Epstein “stole” employees from the Mar-a-Lago spa, specifically referencing Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre; that Epstein was banned from the club for acting inappropriately toward a club member’s teenage daughter around 2007; and that a 2004 bidding war over a Palm Beach mansion called “Maison de l’Amitie” ended the friendship after Trump outbid Epstein and paid $41.35 million.21PBS NewsHour. The Facts and Timeline of Trump and Epstein’s Falling Out20ABC News. Timeline of Trump and Epstein’s Relationship Mar-a-Lago records show Epstein’s account was listed as “closed” as of October 2007. The New York Times has reported there is “little public record” of the two men interacting after the 2004 mansion auction.
After Epstein’s July 2019 arrest, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he had not spoken to Epstein in 15 years and said, “I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you.”20ABC News. Timeline of Trump and Epstein’s Relationship White House communications director Steven Cheung later said, “The fact is that the President kicked him out of his club for being a creep.” Law enforcement has never accused Trump of criminal wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.22CNN. Trump-Epstein Relationship Timeline