On September 8, 2025, the House Oversight Committee ignited a political firestorm by releasing a trove of documents from the estate of Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier whose name has become synonymous with scandal and conspiracy. Among the most eye-catching items made public: a sexually suggestive letter, purportedly signed by President Donald Trump, included in a lavish 50th birthday album for Epstein compiled back in 2003. The document—complete with a hand-drawn outline of a curvaceous woman—quickly became the subject of fierce partisan debate, renewed media scrutiny, and a flurry of denials from the White House.
According to Associated Press and ABC News, the birthday album, running 238 pages, was among a batch of files obtained by the GOP-led committee after a subpoena to Epstein's estate in late August. The committee also released Epstein's last will and testament, a 2007 non-prosecution agreement, and entries from his notorious contact book. The album itself, which includes a prologue by Ghislaine Maxwell—Epstein's former associate and convicted sex trafficker—features contributors divided into categories such as Family, Friends, Science, and Business. The 'Friends' section lists not only Donald Trump, but also former President Bill Clinton, attorney Alan Dershowitz, and other prominent names.
But it was the letter attributed to Trump that set off the loudest alarms. The note, described by The Wall Street Journal and corroborated by images posted by Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia, reads, "A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday—and may every day be another wonderful secret." It is surrounded by a drawing of a voluptuous woman and bears what appears to be Trump's signature. Yet, the president has adamantly denied both writing the letter and creating the accompanying artwork. "These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures," Trump said, as reported by Associated Press. He has gone so far as to file a staggering $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal for what he claims is a "false, malicious, and defamatory" report linking him to the letter.
The White House has doubled down on the denial. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt declared on X, "As I have said all along, it's very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it. President Trump's legal team will continue to aggressively pursue litigation." Deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich chimed in as well, posting several images of Trump's signature over the years and insisting, "it's not his signature." The White House's efforts to distance Trump from the letter have only fueled the controversy, with some seeing the legal response as an attempt to silence reporting and others as a necessary defense against political smears.
Republicans on Capitol Hill were quick to dismiss the letter's significance. As Associated Press noted, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida said, "It's not his signature. I've seen Donald Trump sign a million things." Rep. Thomas Massie, who is leading a bipartisan push for a House vote to force the Justice Department to release its Epstein files, downplayed the letter's relevance entirely: "It doesn't prove anything. Having a birthday card from Trump doesn't help the survivors and the victims." Committee Chair James Comer accused Democrats of "cherry-picking documents and politicizing information received" from the Epstein estate, emphasizing that "President Trump is not accused of any wrongdoing and Democrats are ignoring the new information the Committee received today."
On the other side, Democrats and some advocates for Epstein's victims argue that transparency is paramount. Brad Edwards, an attorney representing many of Epstein's survivors, criticized Trump's response as hypocritical. "He told the public the Epstein story should ‘go away,’ yet filed a $10 billion lawsuit that only magnifies the very issue he wants silenced. With today’s release, the least he could do is withdraw that lawsuit and publicly apologize to the journalists he attacked for reporting what seems to have now proved to be true,” Edwards told ABC News. Edwards had previously called on lawmakers to subpoena the estate for the birthday book, arguing that it was the simplest way to resolve questions about its contents.
The release of these documents comes amid mounting bipartisan pressure in Congress for full disclosure of the so-called Epstein files, following years of speculation and conspiracy theories about the financier's connections to the powerful and wealthy. The Justice Department began turning over records from the Epstein sex trafficking investigation to the House Oversight Committee in August, after the committee issued a subpoena for a wide range of materials—including Epstein's last will and testament, agreements with prosecutors, contact books, and detailed financial records. The committee has stated it will pursue additional Epstein bank records based on new information received, with the stated goal of bringing "transparency and accountability for survivors of Epstein's heinous crimes and the American people," according to Comer.
The birthday book itself is a strange artifact of Epstein's life and social circle. The prologue, written by Maxwell, introduces a collection of letters and photographs—some dating back to Epstein's childhood, others featuring now-redacted images of women who were close to him. The contributors are divided into categories, with the 'Girlfriends' and 'Special Assistants' sections entirely redacted, highlighting the secrecy and controversy that continue to surround Epstein's network. Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 on sex trafficking and related charges, told a Justice Department official last month that Epstein asked her to coordinate contributions to the birthday book, but she could not recall whether Trump, then a private citizen, was among those who responded.
Epstein's criminal history is well known by now. Arrested in July 2019 on federal charges of conspiracy and child sex trafficking, he died by suicide a month later in a New York jail while awaiting trial. His death only deepened public suspicion and fueled calls for a full accounting of his activities and associations. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein, with federal prosecutors stating she helped abuse girls as young as 14.
The political fallout from the document release has been swift and fierce. Vice President JD Vance, a Republican, dismissed the controversy as "another fake scandal” and a "smear," writing on X, "The Democrats don't care about Epstein. They don’t even care about his victims. That's why they were silent about it for years. The only thing they care about is concocting another fake scandal like Russiagate to smear President Trump with lies. No one is falling for this BS." Comer echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Democrats must decide "if their priority is justice for the survivors or politics."
As the Oversight Committee continues to sift through tens of thousands of pages of Epstein-related documents, the debate over what these files mean—and who should be held accountable—shows no sign of abating. For the survivors of Epstein's crimes, the hope is that transparency will finally bring some measure of justice. For politicians and the public alike, the saga is a stark reminder of how proximity to power can complicate the pursuit of truth.
With both sides entrenched, the release of the Epstein files has managed to raise as many questions as it answers—leaving the nation watching, waiting, and wondering what secrets might yet come to light.
