US lawmakers have published new documents from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, including a so-called “birthday book” created for the late financier in 2003, which contains notes allegedly signed by political and business figures, among them U.S. President Donald Trump.
The 238-page scrapbook, titled The First Fifty Years, was compiled by Epstein’s then-partner Ghislaine Maxwell for his 50th birthday. It features dozens of contributions from prominent names, ranging from politicians and ambassadors to celebrities and models. A note attributed to Lord Peter Mandelson, then Britain’s ambassador to Washington, describes Epstein as his “best pal.” Mandelson has since said he deeply regretted being introduced to Epstein.
The most politically sensitive entry is a page allegedly signed by Donald Trump, featuring a crude sketch of a woman’s body and a message ending with the line: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.” The White House on Monday denied the note was authentic, insisting that the president “did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it.” Trump has previously called the document “a fake thing” and launched a $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, which first reported on it earlier this year.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released an image of the note ahead of the committee’s formal publication of the book and other Epstein documents, including his will, his personal address book, and the controversial 2007 non-prosecution agreement struck with Florida prosecutors.
Representative Robert Garcia, the panel’s ranking Democrat, said the note’s existence contradicted Trump’s earlier denials: “Now we know that Donald Trump was lying and is doing everything he can to cover up the truth.” Republican chairman James Comer accused Democrats of “cherry-picking documents” and pledged that his side of the committee remained focused on accountability for Epstein’s victims.
The birthday book also contains an apparent contribution from former President Bill Clinton, praising Epstein’s “childlike curiosity.” Clinton has acknowledged knowing Epstein but maintains he had no knowledge of his crimes. Prince Andrew is also mentioned, with one contributor writing of meeting him through Epstein.
The release of the book comes amid renewed pressure from survivors of Epstein’s abuse for greater transparency. Epstein died in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. For Trump, whose friendship with Epstein soured two decades ago, the resurfacing of this artifact threatens to deepen political controversy at a time when even some of his Republican allies are urging openness over what the so-called “Epstein files” reveal.
