Democrats in the US House of Representatives on Monday released a birthday letter allegedly written by Donald Trump to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein more than two decades ago, though the White House quickly rejected the claim as false.
The letter, said to be from 2003 and included in Epstein’s “birthday book” provided to Congress by his lawyers, appears to carry Trump’s signature. In it, Trump allegedly referred to Epstein as a “pal” and wrote, “May every day be another wonderful secret,” alongside a crude sketch of a naked female silhouette. Trump has denied authoring the letter, insisting it does not exist.
The letter was first reported by the Wall Street Journal in July. Following Monday’s release, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich dismissed the document’s authenticity, stating on X, “It’s not his signature. DEFAMATION!” He also referenced Trump’s ongoing lawsuit against News Corp, the Journal’s parent company.
Republicans on the House Oversight Committee, which they control, responded by publishing hundreds of additional documents from Epstein’s legal team, including the full birthday book, Epstein’s will, and his 2007 non-prosecution agreement with Florida prosecutors.
The revelations add another layer to the political fallout surrounding Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting federal sex-trafficking charges. His ties to high-profile figures—including Trump, former US President Bill Clinton, Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz, and late Bear Stearns CEO Alan “Ace” Greenberg—have long fuelled controversy and conspiracy theories.
Clinton’s purported message in the book praised Epstein’s “childlike curiosity” and “drive to make a difference,” while Greenberg allegedly wrote that working with Epstein was a “pleasure.” Neither Clinton nor Dershowitz could be reached for comment, while Greenberg died in 2014.
House Democrats, who have demanded the full release of Epstein-related records, seized on the Trump letter, posting on X: “What is he hiding? Release the files!” Victims of Epstein and some lawmakers argue that many questions about his network of powerful associates remain unanswered.
Trump, who previously suggested the files contained damaging information, has since dismissed the matter as a Democrat-led “hoax.” The documents, however, ensure Epstein’s shadow continues to loom over US politics, intertwining questions of accountability, power, and credibility.
Melissa Enoch
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