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US lawmakers release Epstein 'birthday book' with alleged Trump note US lawmakers release Epstein 'birthday book' with alleged Trump note
(about 1 hour later)
Epstein and Trump in 1997 - the pair were friendly for years, but Trump says they fell out in the early 2000sEpstein and Trump in 1997 - the pair were friendly for years, but Trump says they fell out in the early 2000s
US lawmakers have released copies of a "birthday book" given to the late convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003, which includes a note allegedly signed by US President Donald Trump. US lawmakers have released copies of a "birthday book" given to the late convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, which includes a note allegedly signed by US President Donald Trump.
Along with the book, lawmakers also released a trove of documents that include Epstein's personal address book and his will. The book was released with a trove of documents that include Epstein's will and his personal address book - with contacts that include royalty, politicians across the globe, celebrities and models.
Lawyers for the estate sent documents to the House Oversight Committee after they were subpoenaed last month. Lawyers for Epstein's estate sent documents to the House Oversight Committee after they were subpoenaed last month.
The release came hours after Democrats published the alleged note by Trump featuring a drawing of a woman's body. The White House on Monday denied its authenticity and said the president "did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it." The White House denied the alleged letter from Trump, which featured a drawing of a woman's body, was authentic and said the president "did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it".
When the Wall Street Journal published details of the alleged birthday note in July, Trump said it was "a fake thing" and denied writing it. Photos showing the note had not been published until this congressional release. The House Oversight Committee last month issued a legal summons for the executors of Epstein's estate to produce a number of documents, including the birthday book.
"These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures," he said, before launching legal action against the newspaper. The release comes under continued pressure on Trump, including from his own supporters and within his own Republican Party, for more transparency on what investigations into Epstein uncovered.
The president filed a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal's reporters, publisher and executives, including News Corp's owner Rupert Murdoch, seeking $10bn (£7.4bn) in damages. The 238-page book was reportedly put together for Epstein's 50th birthday by Ghislaine Maxwell, his British co-conspirator and ex-girlfriend who was convicted in 2021 of conspiring with him to traffic girls for sex.
Three ways Epstein scandal could go for Trump The scrapbook, titled "the first fifty years," contains submissions, apparently from various people, including high-profile politicians and business leaders, connected to Epstein.
In a statement along with the release of the documents by the House Oversight panel, Republican committee chairman James Comer accused Democrats on the panel of "cherry-picking documents and politicizing information" they received from the estate. There is the alleged Trump note, who was his friend at the time, and one from former President Bill Clinton.
"Oversight Committee Republicans are focused on running a thorough investigation to bring transparency and accountability for survivors of Epstein's heinous crimes and the American people," he said. Trump has denied ever writing the birthday note. A spokesperson has acknowledged that Clinton was acquainted with Epstein at the time but knew nothing of his crimes.
The files released on Monday by the panel include a "birthday book" put together by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's British co-conspirator and ex-girlfriend who was convicted in 2021 of conspiring with the late financier to traffic girls for sex. The BBC has contacted the Clinton Foundation and a lawyer for the former president.
The panel also released Epstein's will, a 2007 non-prosecution agreement between Epstein and federal prosecutors at the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida and almost 30 years of entries in his personal address book. The book also includes photographs from Epstein's life, from his school days to adulthood, notes from songs lyrics, a spoof of a Vanity Fair magazine cover, and lewd sketches, stories and private jokes.
The BBC is currently looking at the files released by the panel. A table of contents divides entries into categories, including notes from family members, business associates, friends and girlfriends.
After Democrats released the initial note on Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said "President Trump's legal team will continue to aggressively pursue litigation". When the alleged Trump note was first reported by the Wall Street Journal in July, the president said it was "a fake thing" and denied writing it. He filed a lawsuit against the paper's reporters, publisher and executives, including News Corp's owner Rupert Murdoch, seeking $10bn (£7.4bn) in damages.
"As I have said all along, it's very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it," Leavitt added.
The signed note posted on X features several lines of text, with the final line reading: "Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret."
In the post with the image, the Democrats on the Oversight Committee wrote: "Trump talks about a 'wonderful secret' the two of them shared. What is he hiding? Release the files!"
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released the image on Monday, after the committee received it from the Epstein estate. The White House said "President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it"Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released the image on Monday, after the committee received it from the Epstein estate. The White House said "President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it"
The House Oversight Committee last month issued a legal summons for the executors of Epstein's estate to produce a number of documents, including a birthday book which contains the note purportedly from Trump. The White House continued on Monday to deny Trump was involved with the note and said the signature on the note did not match that of the president.
The newspaper's publisher Dow Jones said at the time it had "full confidence in the rigour and accuracy of our reporting". Democratic lawmakers, however, released an image of the birthday note on X ahead of the committee and suggested the president had been lying about his participation in the book.
On Monday, Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said: "President Trump called the Epstein investigation a hoax and claimed that his birthday note didn't exist. On Monday, Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the Republican-led House Oversight panel, said Trump "claimed that his birthday note didn't exist".
"Now we know that Donald Trump was lying and is doing everything he can to cover up the truth.""Now we know that Donald Trump was lying and is doing everything he can to cover up the truth."
On X, White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich posted several images of Trump's signature on Monday. The signed note allegedly from Trump features several lines of text, with the final line reading: "Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret."
"Time for @newscorp to open that checkbook, it's not his signature. DEFAMATION!" Budowich wrote. In a post on X with the image, the Democrats on the Oversight Committee wrote: "Trump talks about a 'wonderful secret' the two of them shared. What is he hiding? Release the files!"
The Wall Street Journal reported in July that Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell created the birthday book for the financier in 2003. Along with the book, lawmakers also released a 2007 non-prosecution agreement between Epstein and federal prosecutors at the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, and almost 30 years of entries in his personal address book.
It contained submissions from various Epstein acquaintances, including a note allegedly bearing the name of Trump, who was then his friend.
Three ways Epstein scandal could go for Trump
After Democrats released the note on Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said "President Trump's legal team will continue to aggressively pursue litigation" against the Wall Street Journal.
In a statement, Republican committee chairman James Comer accused Democrats on the panel of "cherry-picking documents and politicizing information" they received from the estate.
"Oversight Committee Republicans are focused on running a thorough investigation to bring transparency and accountability for survivors of Epstein's heinous crimes and the American people," he said.
Trump and Epstein were friendly for years, but the president has said he fell out with him in the early 2000s after the financier poached employees from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.Trump and Epstein were friendly for years, but the president has said he fell out with him in the early 2000s after the financier poached employees from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Epstein was first criminally indicted in 2006 in Florida on a state felony charge of solicitation of prostitution. He died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial.Epstein was first criminally indicted in 2006 in Florida on a state felony charge of solicitation of prostitution. He died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial.