Congress releases Epstein's 'birthday book', including alleged Trump letter

Washington: Democrats in the US House of Representatives on Monday made public a birthday letter Donald Trump allegedly wrote to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein more than 20 years ago, though the White House quickly denied its authenticity.

The letter, the existence of which was reported by the Wall Street Journal in July, appears to have been signed by Trump, but he has denied doing so and has said it does not exist.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released the letter after Congress received the 2003 "birthday book" from Epstein's lawyers. The letter is dated three years before allegations of sex abuse by Epstein became public in 2006.

Later on Monday, Republicans who control the Oversight Committee released hundreds of pages of documents turned over by Epstein's lawyers, including the full "birthday book," Epstein's will and his 2007 non-prosecution agreement with prosecutors in Florida.

The birthday letter contains text of a purported dialogue between Trump and Epstein in which Trump calls him a "pal" and says, "May every day be another wonderful secret." The text sits within a crude sketch of the silhouette of a naked woman.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich denounced the release, saying the signature on the letter was not Trump's and alluded to Trump's lawsuit against the Journal's parent company, News Corp.

"Time for @newscorp to open that checkbook, it’s not his signature. DEFAMATION!" Budowich posted on X.

The case of Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019, has caused a political headache for Trump after many of his supporters embraced a slew of conspiracy theories surrounding the convicted sex offender.

Republicans on the House Oversight panel last week released more than 33,000 pages of files related to Epstein in a bid to ward off a bipartisan vote that would have forced further disclosures.

Epstein's victims and some members of Congress remain unsatisfied. Referring to Trump, House Democrats said on X on Monday, "What is he hiding? Release the files!"

After long suggesting that the files contain damaging information, Trump reversed course after returning to the White House. He has repeatedly labeled the matter a Democrat-led "hoax."

The book, given to Epstein as a 50th birthday present, is filled with photos of bad haircuts, women and men including Epstein in tight bathing suits and reminiscences from childhood friends, former girlfriends, and people who came to know Epstein after he became wealthy.

It also includes messages to Epstein purported to be from famous people other than Trump, among them former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz and former Bear Stearns CEO Alan "Ace" Greenberg.

The message allegedly from Clinton applauds Epstein for his "childlike curiosity" and his "drive to make a difference," while Greenberg supposedly wrote, "Working with Jeffrey has been a pleasure and watching his meteoric success has given me many vicarious thrills."

Clinton could not immediately be reached for comment after business hours. Dershowitz and a lawyer who represented him in Epstein-related civil litigation also could not be immediately reached. Greenberg died in 2014.