WASHINGTON — US lawmakers have launched copies of a “birthday e-book” given to the late convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, which features a observe allegedly signed by US President Donald Trump.
The e-book was launched with a trove of paperwork that embrace Epstein’s will and his private deal with e-book — with contacts that embrace royalty, politicians throughout the globe, celebrities and fashions.
Legal professionals for Epstein’s property despatched paperwork to the Home Oversight Committee after they had been subpoenaed final month.
The White Home denied the alleged letter from Trump, which featured a drawing of a lady’s physique, was genuine and stated the president “didn’t draw this image, and he didn’t signal it”.
The Home Oversight Committee final month issued a authorized summons for the executors of Epstein’s property to supply various paperwork, together with the birthday e-book.
The discharge comes below continued strain on Trump, together with from his personal supporters and inside his personal Republican Social gathering, for extra transparency on what investigations into Epstein uncovered.
The 238-page e-book was put collectively for Epstein’s fiftieth birthday by Ghislaine Maxwell, his British co-conspirator and ex-girlfriend who was convicted in 2021 of conspiring with him to visitors women for intercourse. It was created 2003 — three years earlier than allegations of intercourse abuse by Epstein grew to become public.
The scrapbook, titled “the primary fifty years”, incorporates submissions, apparently from numerous folks, together with high-profile politicians and enterprise leaders, related to Epstein.
There’s the alleged Trump observe, who was his buddy on the time, and one from former President Invoice Clinton, which mentions Epstein’s childlike curiosity.
Trump has denied ever writing the birthday observe. A spokesperson for Clinton has acknowledged that he was acquainted with Epstein on the time however knew nothing of his crimes.
The BBC has contacted the Clinton Basis and a lawyer for the previous president.
Together with the US politicians, there’s additionally a letter from Lord Peter Mandelson, the British Ambassador to america, the place he calls Epstein “my finest pal”.
A spokesman for Lord Mandelson advised the BBC that he had lengthy been clear that he very a lot regretted having been launched to Epstein.
Prince Andrew is briefly talked about within the e-book. A observe from an unidentified girl says she met Prince Andrew, Clinton and Trump by means of Epstein, in addition to various celebrities.
The girl goes on to say she has “seen the personal quarters of Buckingham Palace” and “sat on the Queen of England’s throne”. Prince Andrew confronted allegations as a part of the Epstein saga and has denied any wrongdoing.
The e-book additionally contains pictures from Epstein’s life, from his college days to maturity, notes from songs lyrics, a spoof of a Vainness Honest journal cowl, and lewd sketches and pictures, tales and personal jokes.
A desk of contents divides entries into classes, together with notes from members of the family, enterprise associates, mates and girlfriends.
When the alleged Trump observe was first reported by the Wall Avenue Journal in July, the president stated it was “a pretend factor” and denied writing it. He filed a lawsuit towards the paper’s reporters, writer and executives, together with Information Corp’s proprietor Rupert Murdoch, searching for $10bn (£7.4bn) in damages.
Democrats on the Home Oversight Committee launched the picture on Monday, after the committee obtained it from the Epstein property. The White Home stated “President Trump didn’t draw this image, and he didn’t signal it”
Trump has not commented on the observe’s launch, although the White Home denied on Monday the president produced something for the e-book and stated the signature on the observe didn’t match the president’s
Democratic lawmakers launched a picture of the birthday observe on X forward of the committee and urged the president had been mendacity about his participation within the e-book.
On Monday, Robert Garcia, the rating Democrat on the Republican-led Home Oversight panel, stated Trump “claimed that his birthday observe did not exist”.
“Now we all know that Donald Trump was mendacity and is doing every part he can to cowl up the reality.”
The signed observe allegedly from Trump options a number of strains of textual content, with the ultimate line studying: “Glad Birthday — and should every single day be one other fantastic secret.”
In a publish on X with the picture, the Democrats on the Oversight Committee wrote: “Trump talks a couple of ‘fantastic secret’ the 2 of them shared. What’s he hiding? Launch the information!”
Together with the e-book, lawmakers additionally launched a 2007 non-prosecution settlement between Epstein and federal prosecutors on the US Legal professional’s Workplace for the Southern District of Florida, and virtually 30 years of entries in his private deal with e-book.
After Democrats launched the observe on Monday, White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated “President Trump’s authorized workforce will proceed to aggressively pursue litigation” towards the Wall Avenue Journal.
In an announcement, Republican committee chairman James Comer accused Democrats on the panel of “cherry-picking paperwork and politicizing info” they obtained from the property.
“Oversight Committee Republicans are targeted on working a radical investigation to deliver transparency and accountability for survivors of Epstein’s heinous crimes and the American folks,” he stated.
Trump and Epstein had been pleasant for years, however the president has stated he fell out with him within the early 2000s after the financier poached workers from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Epstein was first criminally indicted in 2006 in Florida on a state felony cost of solicitation of prostitution. He died in jail in 2019 whereas awaiting trial. — BBC
