WASHINGTON – The White House has criticized the publication of President Trump’s birthday notes to Jeffrey Epstein, labeling them as “fake news.”
The complete book, submitted to Congress by Epstein’s real estate company, was released Monday evening by the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee after Democrats shared only the pages related to Trump.
Trump, at 79 years old, told NBC News on Tuesday morning, “I didn’t comment on anything that was a dead problem… I made all the comments to staff. It’s a dead problem.”
The president had previously declined to elaborate on a page that featured a rough sketch of a woman’s naked body with the words “may be a great everyday secret,” and he subsequently filed a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal’s parent company, News Corp, after the illustration was highlighted in July.
A senior spokesperson for Trump mentioned that the signatures on the notes did not seem to match the president’s, although the Journal suggested they were somewhat in line with his previous autographs.
“The recent release by the Wall Street Journal shows that this entire ‘birthday card’ story is false,” tweeted White House press secretary Kareen Leavitt on Monday.
Trump distanced himself from Epstein in the mid-2000s. Epstein was incarcerated for 13 months in 2008 after pleading guilty to soliciting sex from a minor, much of which was served under work release conditions.
“As I’ve stated, President Trump never created this image, nor did he sign it. His legal team is actively pursuing lawsuits. Moreover, the so-called ‘reporter’ who crafted this piece is merely seeking attention,” the spokesperson added.
In late July, Trump indicated that difficulties arose from the “massages poachers” connected with Epstein at Mar-a-Lago.
Other noteworthy entries in the book, compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell—who was involved with Epstein—highlight praise for him from figures like Bill Clinton, mentioning attributes such as “childlike curiosity and willingness to make a difference.”
Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison, alleged that Rosovsky was among those who received a “massage” at Epstein’s Manhattan residence. She has publicly claimed ignorance about any potential misconduct involving other prominent men, including Trump, and has sought pardons, asserting she isn’t “inappropriate for anyone.”
Epstein’s lawyer, Alan Delsitz, purportedly stated, “As a birthday gift for you, I was able to secure an early version of the unfair article from Vanity. I spoke to you about shifting my focus from you to Bill Clinton.”
Various drawings in the birthday book indicate Epstein’s appeal to young women and girls.
One unsigned illustration depicts Epstein holding a lollipop and balloons to entice school children.
Moreover, notable figures such as Les Wexner, former CEO of Victoria’s Secret, are said to have contributed illustrations and described them as what “you want.”
US British ambassador Peter Mandelson allegedly provided an image of himself in a bathrobe alongside Epstein. A spokesman for Mandelson expressed regret over their introduction.
Businessman Joel Pashcow, associated with Mar-a-Lago, reportedly submitted an embarrassing image of a woman presenting an oversized check to Trump for $22,500. The woman in the background, a wealthy European in her 20s, cut ties with Epstein around 1997, her lawyer stated, dismissing the memo as “a disgusting, deeply disturbing hoax.”
Mort Zuckerman, the former owner of the New York Daily News, is claimed to have written about Epstein’s shadowy career, referencing rumors of espionage.
Zuckerman mentioned finding records related to Epstein in tabloid archives that listed significant details about his life.
Some entries and names were gathered by the Epstein Estate, while others came from various “friends” and notable figures linked to Epstein, some of whom are no longer alive.
Epstein’s death in a Manhattan prison cell on August 10, 2019, has again attracted media attention this year as Attorney General Pam Bondy announced a comprehensive review of documents related to the case.
Bondi ultimately stated that no “client list” was found in Epstein’s records and confirmed that, despite numerous allegations against him, there was no evidence to suggest an investigation of unclaimed third parties.
