US lawmakers have launched a replica of a “birthday ebook” given to the late convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, which features a be aware allegedly signed by US President Donald Trump.
The ebook was launched with a trove of paperwork that embrace Epstein’s will and his private handle ebook – with contacts that embrace royalty, celebrities, fashions and politicians from around the globe.
Legal professionals for Epstein’s property despatched paperwork to the Home Oversight Committee after being subpoenaed final month.
The White Home denied the alleged letter from Trump, which featured a drawing of a girl’s physique, was genuine and mentioned the president “didn’t draw this image, and he didn’t signal it”.
The congressional committee final month issued a authorized summons for the executors of Epstein’s property to provide numerous paperwork, together with the birthday ebook.
The discharge comes because the president faces rising stress, together with from his personal supporters and inside his personal Republican Get together, for extra transparency on what investigations into Epstein uncovered.
The 238-page ebook was put collectively for Epstein’s fiftieth birthday by Ghislaine Maxwell, his British co-conspirator and ex-girlfriend who was convicted in 2021 of conspiring with him to site visitors ladies for intercourse. It was created in 2003 – three years earlier than allegations of intercourse abuse by Epstein turned public.
The scrapbook, titled “The primary fifty years”, comprises submissions, apparently from varied folks linked to Epstein, together with high-profile politicians and enterprise leaders.
In addition to the alleged be aware from Trump, who was his buddy on the time, there’s one other which seems to be from former President Invoice Clinton, which mentions Epstein’s “childlike curiosity”.
A spokesperson for Clinton has acknowledged that he was acquainted with Epstein on the time however knew nothing of his crimes.
The BBC has contacted the Clinton Basis and a lawyer for the previous president for touch upon the newly launched ebook.
It additionally comprises a birthday message from Lord Peter Mandelson, the British Ambassador to the US, through which he calls Epstein “my finest pal”.
A spokesman for Lord Mandelson informed the BBC that he had lengthy been clear that he very a lot regretted having been launched to Epstein.
Prince Andrew is briefly talked about within the ebook. A be aware from an unidentified lady says she met Prince Andrew, Clinton and Trump by way of Epstein, in addition to numerous celebrities.
The girl goes on to say she has “seen the non-public quarters of Buckingham Palace” and “sat on the Queen of England’s throne”. Prince Andrew confronted allegations as a part of the Epstein saga and has denied any wrongdoing.
When the alleged Trump be aware was first reported by the Wall Road Journal in July, the president mentioned it was “a faux factor” and denied writing it. He filed a lawsuit towards the paper’s reporters, writer and executives, together with Information Corp’s proprietor Rupert Murdoch, searching for $10bn (£7.4bn) in damages.
Democratic lawmakers printed a picture of the birthday be aware on X forward of the committee’s launch of the ebook and different Epstein paperwork.
The signed be aware allegedly from Trump options a number of strains of textual content, with the ultimate line studying: “Glad Birthday – and should day by day be one other fantastic secret.”
Trump has not commented on the be aware’s launch, although the White Home denied on Monday that the president produced something for the ebook and mentioned the signature on the be aware didn’t match Trump’s.
Robert Garcia, the rating Democrat on the Republican-led Home Oversight panel, mentioned Trump had “claimed that his birthday be aware did not exist”.
“Now we all know that Donald Trump was mendacity and is doing all the things he can to cowl up the reality.”
In an announcement, Republican committee chairman James Comer accused Democrats on the panel of “cherry-picking paperwork and politicizing data” they acquired from the property.
“Oversight Committee Republicans are centered on working an intensive investigation to carry transparency and accountability for survivors of Epstein’s heinous crimes and the American folks,” he mentioned.
Together with the ebook, lawmakers additionally launched a 2007 non-prosecution settlement between Epstein and federal prosecutors on the US Lawyer’s Workplace for the Southern District of Florida, and virtually 30 years of entries in his private handle ebook.
After Democrats launched the be aware on Monday, White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned “President Trump’s authorized workforce will proceed to aggressively pursue litigation” towards the Wall Road Journal.
Trump and Epstein had been pleasant for years, however the president has mentioned he fell out with him within the early 2000s after the financier poached staff from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Epstein was first criminally indicted in 2006 in Florida on a state felony cost of solicitation of prostitution. He died in jail in 2019 whereas awaiting trial on different prices.
