Donald Trump has agreed to postpone the deposition of Rupert Murdoch, the long-standing media magnate, in a defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal. This comes pending a decision on a motion to dismiss, as revealed in a recent court filing.
The joint-stipulation, filed in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida in Miami, reports that Murdoch, at 94 years of age, has agreed to provide a sworn health statement within three days of court approval, with regular updates on his health in the interim. Failure to comply would result in an expedited deposition.
If the motion to dismiss is denied, Murdoch will undergo an in-person deposition within 30 days on American soil. The agreement retains Trump’s right to expedite the process should Murdoch’s health undergo significant changes. The document, signed by lawyers from both sides, also indicates that both Murdoch and News Corp CEO Robert Thomson are not contesting the court’s jurisdiction.
Just a week prior, Trump had asked the court to force Murdoch to give a deposition within 15 days due to his advanced age and physical condition. In his motion, Trump noted Murdoch’s age and various health scares, stating these factors weigh heavily on Murdoch’s availability for in-person testimony at trial.
The current lawsuit stems from an article in the Journal asserting that Trump’s name appeared on a 2003 birthday greeting for Jeffrey Epstein, which contained a sexually suggestive drawing and referenced shared secrets. Epstein, a disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, died in a New York jail in 2019 before trial.
Reports from Dow Jones indicate that the Journal is standing by its reporting and will defend against the lawsuit with vigor.