The House Oversight Committee has released a 238-page scrapbook given to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on his 50th birthday, containing a letter bearing Donald Trump's signature that the president had previously denied writing. The release has intensified public scrutiny of Trump's ties to Epstein.
The letter, which includes a sketch of a woman's torso, quotes Trump as saying, "We have certain things in common, Jeffrey," and wishing "every day be another wonderful secret." The note appears to match a description from a July Wall Street Journal report, which Trump had called a "FAKE."
The scrapbook also contains a second reference to Trump: an image of Epstein holding a cheque for $22,500 with a "Trump" signature. Redacted text suggests Epstein showed "early talents with money + women" and that he had sold something to Trump, who was "fully depreciated."
Other contributors include former President Bill Clinton, UK Ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson, billionaire Leon Black, and Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz. The leather-bound volume includes sexually explicit drawings and photos.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich claimed the signature was falsified, writing on X: "Time for news corp to open that check book, it's not his signature. DEFAMATION!" However, experts note Trump's signature on a 1995 letter closely resembles the one in the scrapbook.
Trump has not publicly responded to the release, telling NBC News: "I don't comment on something that's a dead issue." Representative Robert Garcia said the committee had "secured the infamous 'Birthday Book'" and called on Trump to "tell us the truth about what he knew."
