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Trump says letter is fake, says he will sue newspaper

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Journal declines to comment on lawsuit threat

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White House, Trump's base have been roiled by handling of

Epstein information

July 17 (Reuters) - Donald Trump's name appeared on a

risque 2003 personal note to Jeffrey Epstein, the Wall Street

Journal reported on Thursday. The president responded that the

letter was fake.

The Journal reported that the letter was one of several

included in a leather-bound album meant to celebrate Epstein's

50th birthday, about three years before sex-abuse allegations

emerged against the financier.

Reuters could not immediately confirm the authenticity of

the letter.

Trump quickly responded to the story on his Truth Social

platform, saying he would sue the newspaper and Rupert Murdoch,

who controls its publisher, News Corp. ( NWSA )

"The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally,

were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the

supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a

FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued," Trump wrote.

"President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal,

NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly."

A spokesperson for the Wall Street Journal and its parent

company, Dow Jones & Co, declined to comment on its story or

Trump's threat to sue. Representatives for News Corp ( NWSA ) and Murdoch

could not immediately be reached for comment.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for

comment from Reuters.

The White House has been roiled by questions about disgraced

financier and convicted sex offender Epstein, after the Justice

Department this month concluded that there was no evidence to

support a number of long-held conspiracy theories about his

clients and 2019 death in prison.

Attorney General Pam Bondi had pledged months earlier to

reveal major revelations about Epstein, including "a lot of

names" and "a lot of flight logs."

Some Trump supporters have demanded the release of more

information on Epstein, causing a rare fracture within his base

of support. Trump has pushed back.

"It's all been a big hoax," Trump told reporters in the Oval

Office on Wednesday, as calls increased for the release of more

information on Epstein's clients.

The Journal said the letter, bearing Trump's name, contains

several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a

naked woman, which appeared to be hand-drawn with a heavy

marker. The newspaper said the letter concludes "Happy Birthday

- and may every day be another wonderful secret," and featured

the signature "Donald."

Vice President JD Vance responded to the story on X, saying,

"Forgive my language but this story is complete and utter

bullshit. The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it."

Allegations that Epstein had been sexually abusing girls

became public in 2006 - after the birthday book was compiled -

and he was arrested that year before accepting a plea deal.

Epstein died in 2019 in jail after he was arrested a second time

and charged with sex-trafficking conspiracy.