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President Donald Trump has agreed to delay the deposition of media leader Rupert Murdoch in his defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal until after the court rules on a pending motion to dismiss, according to a joint court filing.
The change, filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, states that Murdoch will submit a sworn health statement within three days of the court’s approval and will provide sworn health updates. If Murdoch fails to do so, a quicker deposition could be scheduled.
Should the court deny the motion to dismiss, Murdoch is required to sit for an in-person deposition within 30 days, to take place in the United States. The filing also allows Trump to accelerate the process if Murdoch’s health deteriorates.
Attorneys for both sides signed the agreement, which also notes that Murdoch and News Corp CEO Robert Thomson will not contest the court’s jurisdiction in the matter.
Trump initially pressed the court to compel Murdoch’s deposition within 15 days, citing the News Corp founder’s advanced age and reported health issues.
A July 28 court filing from Trump’s legal team stated, “Taken together, these factors weigh heavily in determining that Murdoch would be unavailable for in-person testimony at trial.”
The lawsuit, filed July 18, accuses The Wall Street Journal, its parent companies, Murdoch and several reporters of defaming Trump in a story that claimed his name appeared on a 2003 birthday greeting to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The greeting allegedly featured a sexually suggestive cartoon and a reference to shared secrets.
In addition, Trump barred a Wall Street Journal reporter from joining his July trip to Scotland aboard Air Force One over the $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the company.
“As the appeals court confirmed, the Wall Street Journal or any other news outlet are not guaranteed special access to cover President Trump in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and in his private workspaces,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
“Due to the Wall Street Journal’s fake and defamatory conduct, they will not be one of the thirteen outlets on board. Every news organization in the entire world wishes to cover President Trump, and the White House has taken significant steps to include as many voices as possible,” she added.
