Executive Summary
- The House Oversight Committee released a significant collection of Jeffrey Epstein’s records, including his “birthday book,” last will, and a 2007 non-prosecution agreement.
- The “birthday book” contains a note bearing Trump’s name and a controversial photo referencing him, which Trump’s team denies he authored or signed, vowing continued litigation.
- The document release, part of an ongoing congressional investigation, has been met with political contention, with Republicans accusing Democrats of “cherry-picking” while emphasizing the committee’s focus on victim accountability.
The Story So Far
- The current release of Jeffrey Epstein’s estate records by the House Oversight Committee stems from an ongoing bipartisan congressional investigation seeking transparency and accountability for his crimes, particularly regarding his extensive connections to prominent individuals, including Donald Trump, and a controversial 2007 non-prosecution agreement. This process is further complicated by political tensions within the committee, as members dispute the selective release and interpretation of the documents.
Why This Matters
- The House Oversight Committee’s release of Jeffrey Epstein’s records, including the “birthday book” with references to Donald Trump, intensifies public and political scrutiny of prominent individuals associated with the convicted sex offender, while underscoring the political divisions that complicate congressional efforts to achieve full transparency and accountability in the ongoing investigation.
Who Thinks What?
- Democrats on the House Oversight Committee highlighted documents mentioning Donald Trump, including a “birthday book” note and a joke about selling a “fully depreciated” woman to Trump, implying connections.
- President Donald Trump and his team deny the authenticity of the signature in the “birthday book” and the implications of the joke, stating Trump is not accused of wrongdoing and will continue litigation.
- House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer criticized Democrats for “cherry-picking documents and politicizing information,” emphasizing that the committee’s focus is on a thorough investigation for survivors and that Trump is not accused of wrongdoing.
The House Oversight Committee on Monday released a significant collection of records from the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including a “birthday book” containing a note bearing President Donald Trump’s name. The release is part of an ongoing congressional investigation into the Epstein case, aiming to provide greater transparency and accountability.
Among the documents made public were Epstein’s last will and testament, entries from his address book, and the 2007 non-prosecution agreement he had with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. Democrats on the committee specifically highlighted a page from the “birthday book” featuring Trump’s name, an image they posted on social media ahead of the full release.
Response to Trump References
President Trump has consistently denied authoring the letter in the birthday book and previously sued The Wall Street Journal for defamation over its initial report on the document. Following Monday’s release, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that it is “very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it,” adding that Trump’s legal team would continue litigation. White House deputy chief of staff for communications Taylor Budowich also denied Trump’s signature, providing examples of the president’s authentic signature for comparison.
The signature on the document from the “birthday book” bears a close resemblance to images of Trump’s signature found online, particularly instances where only his first name is signed. Democrats on the committee also drew attention to another page, which they described as showing “Epstein and a longtime Mar-a-Lago member joking about selling a ‘fully depreciated’ woman to Donald Trump for $22,500.” This partially redacted photo depicts Epstein with others, holding an oversized check seemingly made out from Trump to Epstein. A handwritten caption below the image references Epstein’s “early talents with money and women.”
Committee Investigation and Political Tensions
The House panel’s investigation into the Epstein case has involved subpoenaing documents from the estate, driven by bipartisan calls for more information and transparency. However, the release itself was met with political contention, as House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer criticized Democrats for what he termed “cherry-picking documents and politicizing information” by selectively releasing materials before the full trove was made public.
Chairman Comer emphasized that Oversight Committee Republicans are focused on a thorough investigation to bring accountability for survivors of Epstein’s crimes, and he noted that President Trump is not accused of wrongdoing. Comer also indicated that the committee would pursue “additional Epstein bank records” based on the initial documents received.
Contents of the “Birthday Book”
The “birthday book” itself is a 238-page compilation of photos, mementos, and letters, reportedly assembled by Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell for his 50th birthday. Maxwell wrote in the prologue that her intention was to “gather stories and old photographs to jog your memory about places, people and different events.”
The book’s “FRIENDS” section lists over 20 names, including former President Bill Clinton, attorney Alan Dershowitz, and Trump, while the “GIRL-FRIENDS” section is entirely redacted. A letter appearing to be from Clinton wishes Epstein a “Happy 50th,” though a spokesman reiterated Clinton’s previous statement that he cut ties with Epstein before his 2019 arrest and was unaware of his crimes. Dershowitz’s tribute includes a note and a doctored magazine cover titled “Vanity Unfair,” which he presented as a birthday gift.
The contents of the book span Epstein’s life, from childhood documents to photos of art and family portraits, alongside several pages of lewd notes with redacted names of women under titles such as “Girls on my boat.”
Additional Records and Redactions
Beyond the “birthday book,” the released records included pages from Epstein’s address book, containing contact information for many prominent individuals. While a version of this address book with redacted contact details had previously been public, the committee’s access has been more extensive.
Attorneys representing Epstein’s estate confirmed the initial document production to the committee and pledged to continue producing responsive documents. They noted that certain redactions were made in the three-volume “birthday book” to protect potential victims and minors, and to remove any nudity. The estate’s lawyers also stated they were “not aware of the existence” of any list of clients involved in sex acts or trafficking facilitated by Epstein, as requested in the subpoena.
A bipartisan group of committee staffers is scheduled to travel to New York City later this week to meet with the estate’s lawyers and review unredacted documents. This follows a previous release of tens of thousands of Epstein files from the Justice Department, which Democrats on the panel had criticized for containing little new information.
The release of these documents from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate marks another step in the ongoing congressional investigation, bringing new details to light while also highlighting the political divisions and complexities surrounding efforts to achieve full transparency in the case.
