Following its publication on Monday (Tuesday AEST), White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it proved the “birthday book” story was false.
“As I have said all along, it’s very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it,” she said. “President Trump’s legal team will continue to aggressively pursue litigation.”
The letter was included in a book reportedly organised by Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell for the disgraced financier’s birthday in 2003.Credit: AP
White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich wrote on X: “Time for [News Corp] to open that checkbook, it’s not his signature. DEFAMATION!”
But Democrats pounced on the document as a smoking gun. “This note Donald Trump has said does not exist,” said Robert Garcia, Democratic leader on the House oversight committee, which obtained the documents under subpoena from Epstein’s estate.
“Once again he is lying to the American public and is leading a White House cover-up … Mr President, this is not a hoax.”
Later in the day, Democrats on the committee released the second document, a photograph, which they said was also from the birthday book. They said it depicted “Epstein and a longtime Mar-a-Lago member joking about selling a ‘fully depreciated’ woman to Donald Trump for $22,500”.
Democrats on the House oversight committee released a second page purportedly from the Jeffrey Epstein “birthday book” that showed the disgraced financier posing with a novelty cheque apparently signed by a “DJ TRUMP”.Credit: X
In the version released by the Democrats, the face of a woman posing with Epstein is blacked out, as is part of the text in the handwritten caption – presumably the person’s name. The White House has not yet commented on the new document.
The Journal, citing the woman’s lawyer, reported she was a wealthy European, then in her 20s, who severed all ties with Epstein around 1997 and did not have a romantic relationship with Trump or Epstein.
Other pages released from the birthday book purportedly included a note from Bill Clinton.
‘It’s reassuring isn’t it, to have lasted as long, across all the years of learning and knowing, adventures … and also to have your childlike curiosity, the drive to make a difference and the solace of friends,’ the message read.
Efforts by news agency Reuters to reach the former US president for comment were unsuccessful.
The message purportedly left by Bill Clinton in Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday book.Credit: House oversight committee
Another page included a lewd illustration showing Epstein handing young girls balloons and a lollipop in “1983”, juxtaposed with an image of Epstein in “2013” receiving a massage from topless women.
The Trump administration’s decision not to release more files from the federal investigation into Epstein’s crimes angered many of the president’s core supporters and has led to renewed efforts in Congress – from Republicans and Democrats – to probe the matter.
Trump has repeatedly sought to dismiss the furore around Epstein as a Democrat-led hoax designed to discredit him, including as recently as Friday.
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“The confused and badly failing Democrat Party did nothing about Jeffrey Epstein while he was alive except befriend him, socialise with him, travel to his island, and take his money!” Trump wrote on social media last week.
“They knew everything there was to know about Epstein, but now, years after his death, they, out of nowhere, are seeming to show such love and heartfelt concern for his victims. Does anybody really believe that? Where were they during his very public trials, and for all of those years before his death? The answer is, nowhere to be found.”
Trump and Epstein were friends in the 1990s and early 2000s, mixing in similar New York financial circles and being photographed together at various society functions.
Trump has said he fell out with Epstein at some point in the 2000s, though he had historically been coy about why. In late July, he said it was because Epstein “stole” young women who were working at his Mar-a-Lago club – namely American-Australian Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide this year.
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