A chilling artefact from the past has surfaced, shedding new light on the long and controversial association between former President Donald Trump and the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The document, a guest book from a birthday party held for Epstein at his Palm Beach mansion, contains a handwritten note from Trump that reads: "Jeffrey, congratulations, you've had a great year. We've had a lot of fun years. Your friend, Donald Trump."
A Party Among Powerful Friends
The book, revealed as part of a defamation lawsuit against Epstein's accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, was signed at a party attended by a host of wealthy and influential figures. The existence of the note directly contradicts Trump's past claims of having a strained and distant relationship with the disgraced financier.
While Trump has publicly stated he "knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him" and that they had a "falling out" years ago, the warm and familiar tone of the message suggests a far closer bond than previously admitted.
The Context of the Message
The note's casual friendliness is particularly jarring given the context. By the time this party took place, Epstein was already a registered sex offender, having pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008. His Palm Beach estate was the centre of the criminal activities for which he was later indicted before his death in prison.
This revelation adds to a well-documented history between the two men. Previous reports and photographs have captured them socialising together at parties and events in New York and Florida throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
Ongoing Legal Fallout
The guest book was entered into evidence by lawyers representing victims in the Maxwell case. Its emergence serves as a potent reminder of the powerful circles in which Epstein operated and the connections he cultivated, which continue to generate scrutiny and legal ramifications years after his death.
For the victims seeking justice, such documents are crucial pieces of a puzzle that outlines the network of influence that enabled Epstein's crimes for decades.
