House Democrats have released a sexually suggestive letter and drawing sent to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 that appears to bear Donald Trump’s signature, adding to the ongoing controversy over their relationship. The White House has dismissed the note as a “Democrat hoax”, while a photograph showing Epstein holding a novelty cheque signed by Trump has also circulated.
The controversy deepened last week when House Speaker Mike Johnson told CNN that Trump had kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago upon hearing a rumour about him, and that Epstein had been an FBI informant working to expose the crimes. Johnson’s office later clarified that he was referring to statements by victims’ attorney Brad Edwards, who said Trump was “friendly” to the cause more than a decade ago before performing an “about-face”. Edwards represents several Epstein survivors.
A Wall Street Journal report said White House officials told Trump in May that his name appeared multiple times in the Epstein files. Trump has denied writing the 2003 birthday note, which includes the line “Enigma’s never age”. In 2002, Trump was quoted as calling Epstein a “terrific” friend who liked women “on the younger side”. Epstein was convicted of a sex crime in 2008.
Trump has acknowledged banning Epstein from Mar-a-Lago in 2007 after Epstein behaved inappropriately towards a club member’s teenage daughter. The pair had been friends for at least 15 years, but there is little record of contact after 2004. Trump has cited a bidding war over a Palm Beach mansion as the cause of the falling out, and in July said Epstein had “stole” young women who worked at the spa.
Despite the White House’s denial of the note’s authenticity, questions over Trump’s ties to Epstein and his reluctance to release the relevant files are unlikely to fade.
