US Lawmakers Release Epstein 'Birthday Book' with Alleged Trump Note Amid Scandal
A US House panel has released a "birthday book" provided by Jeffrey Epstein's estate, which includes an alleged note signed by President Donald Trump for Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003. The release comes after Democrats shared the alleged note on social media, featuring a drawing of a woman's body and sparking controversy over its authenticity.
According to lawmakers, the "birthday book" was given to Epstein as a gift from his friends and acquaintances, including Trump. The book includes a note allegedly signed by Trump, which features a crude drawing of a woman's body and the words "Best regards, Don." However, the White House has denied that Trump wrote or drew the note, with Trump himself previously calling it "a fake thing" when details were first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
The release of the alleged note has sparked widespread controversy, with many questioning its authenticity. According to a spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee, the committee received the documents from Epstein's estate after they were subpoenaed last month. The documents include Epstein's personal address book and his will, in addition to the "birthday book."
Epstein was a convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges of sex trafficking minors. Trump and Epstein had been friends for years, but Trump says they fell out in the early 2000s.
The release of the alleged note has also sparked renewed scrutiny of Trump's relationship with Epstein. According to a report by the New York Times, Trump attended Epstein's 1997 wedding to Ghislaine Maxwell, who was later accused of recruiting young girls for Epstein's sex trafficking ring.
Lawmakers have been investigating Epstein's activities and connections to powerful individuals in government and finance for years. The release of the alleged note is just the latest development in this ongoing investigation.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the White House said that Trump had "no knowledge" of the alleged note or its contents. However, Democrats are calling for further investigation into the matter.
"This is just another example of the deep-seated corruption and cronyism that has plagued this administration," said Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) in a statement. "We demand to know more about Trump's relationship with Epstein and what he knew about his crimes."
The release of the alleged note comes as lawmakers are preparing to hold hearings on the Epstein scandal. According to sources, the House Oversight Committee is planning to hold a hearing next week to examine the allegations against Trump.
In the meantime, the controversy surrounding the alleged note continues to grow. As one expert noted, "This is just another example of how the Epstein scandal has exposed the dark underbelly of power and privilege in this country."
The story is developing, with more information expected to come out in the coming days.
This story was compiled from reports by BBC World and BREAKING: BBC Breaking.
