Washington, September 9(HS):
Democratic members of the US House Oversight Committee have publicly released a “birthday book” originally compiled for Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003, which includes a handwritten note purportedly signed by President Donald Trump. The note contains a cryptic message referencing a “wonderful secret” and is accompanied by a crude doodle resembling a woman’s silhouette.
The release follows a subpoena last month compelling Epstein’s estate to produce documents, including this birthday book, which was assembled by Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Alongside the book, lawmakers received Epstein’s will, an address book, and a non-prosecution agreement from 2007 with Florida prosecutors.
The White House promptly rejected the note’s validity. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump “did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it,” reiterating the administration’s position that the note is false and part of a political hoax. Trump’s legal team has vowed to pursue litigation aggressively.
President Trump had previously dismissed the note as fake when the Wall Street Journal first reported its existence in July, calling it “a fake thing” and denying having written it or created any drawings. He has since filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Journal and related parties.
Republican Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer criticized Democrats for selectively releasing documents and politicizing the information, asserting that Republicans are dedicated to a thorough investigation focused on transparency and accountability for Epstein’s victims.
Democrats insisted that the note and the documents underscore efforts by Trump to cover up his association with Epstein. Top Democrat Rep. Robert Garcia said, “President Trump called the Epstein investigation a hoax and 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.”
The birthday book’s contents and the surrounding documents add fresh fuel to political battles over the Epstein scandal, illustrating the continued controversy over Trump’s past ties to the disgraced financier, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The House Oversight Committee’s release sparked intense debate across social media and Washington, with Republicans defending Trump and disputing the note’s legitimacy, while Democrats pushed for further disclosure of Epstein-related files.
This development arrives amid ongoing efforts by bipartisan lawmakers to demand full transparency on Epstein’s crimes and connections, highlighting the enduring impact of one of the most notorious scandals in recent American political history.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
