Latest news with #birthdayletter
Forbes
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Trump Letter To Epstein: Victims' Lawyer Says Lawmakers Could Subpoena Birthday Book ‘So Quickly'
Topline Lawmakers could soon get President Donald Trump's alleged birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein, if it exists, as an attorney for Epstein's victims told MSNBC on Wednesday that Epstein's estate is in possession of the book of birthday letters and would comply with a subpoena to turn them over—and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., suggested such a subpoena will be filed. Jeffrey Epstein (left) and now-President Donald Trump in 1997 at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm ... More Beach, Florida. Getty Images Key Facts The Wall Street Journal reported last week Trump wrote a 'bawdy' letter to Epstein as part of a birthday book of letters for the financier's 50th birthday, which allegedly included a drawing of a naked woman and Trump telling Epstein, 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' The reported letter has become a major point of contention, with Trump strongly denying that it exists and bringing a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Journal for reporting that it does. Attorney Bradley Edwards, who represents some of Epstein's victims, told MSNBC on Wednesday that the existence of the birthday book 'is an absolute fact' and some of his clients were directed by Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell to help assemble it, though he could not confirm if Trump wrote one of the letters. Epstein's estate is still in possession of the birthday book, Edwards said, and he believes they would likely comply with a subpoena for it, telling MSNBC, 'If someone simply called them on the phone and said, 'Give us the book,' they would probably give you the book.' Khanna, who appeared on MSNBC right after Edwards, suggested the House Oversight Committee 'can easily move forward' on subpoenaing the book, telling anchor Lawrence O'Donnell that would likely be the 'cleanest way forward' to get Epstein documents, versus hoping the Justice Department will turn materials over. Darren Indyke, the attorney in charge of Epstein's estate, has not yet responded to a request for comment. Crucial Quote The lawyers handling Epstein's estate 'would turn the book over immediately. No one would have to guess … You could flip to the page, 'Is there a letter, is there not a letter.' It's over, the victims would get to move on,' Edwards told MSNBC. 'We could solve this problem so quickly if people actually want to solve problems.' What's In Epstein's Birthday Book? Maxwell gathered letters from 'dozens' of Epstein's associates for the financier's 50th birthday in 2003 and compiled them into a 'leather-bound album,' according to the Journal. Epstein's friends wrote 'bawdy' letters to him for the book, the Journal reports, with lawyer Alan Dershowitz and billionaire Les Wexner reportedly among those who contributed letters. Trump's alleged letter reportedly included the following fictional exchange between Trump and Epstein: 'Voice Over: There must be more to life than having everything. Donald: Yes, there is, but I won't tell you what it is. Jeffrey: Nor will I, since I also know what it is. Donald: We have certain things in common, Jeffrey. Jeffrey: Yes, we do, come to think of it. Donald: Enigmas never age, have you noticed that? Jeffrey: As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you. Donald: A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' The Journal did not print the letter in full, and Trump has strongly denied that it exists, claiming he 'never wrote a picture.' Tangent Edwards' comments came after the House Oversight Committee separately voted Wednesday night to subpoena the Justice Department for its files on Epstein. Khanna noted on MSNBC that the subpoena is likely to be difficult to actually enforce, however, given the DOJ is unlikely to comply with it, and would not take any legal action against itself for not complying. The committee has also subpoenaed Maxwell for testimony about Epstein's sex trafficking operation. Key Background The Journal's report on Trump's letter to Epstein came as a bombshell as controversy had already been intensifying over the president's relationship with the late financier. The DOJ's recent decision this month not to release further Epstein files has provoked a widespread backlash from even the president's own supporters, as it came after DOJ officials had repeatedly said they would release the documents. Trump allies including DOJ officials like FBI Director Kash Patel had pushed conspiracy theories tied to the Epstein files for years—such as the existence of an Epstein 'client list'—sparking outrage when those same officials later reversed course and said no such conspiracies exist. The uproar has led to increased scrutiny of Trump's friendship with Epstein, as the president is well-documented to have been friends with the late financier in the 1990s and early 2000s before a falling out in 2004. Trump has never been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 after being accused of sexually abusing hundreds of women, many of whom were underage. The Journal later reported Wednesday that DOJ officials told Trump his name appeared in the Epstein files, though he has still not been accused of participating in any of the financier's alleged crimes. Further Reading Forbes Trump Sues Rupert Murdoch, Dow Jones Over WSJ Story Linking Him To Jeffrey Epstein Forbes Trump Told In May He Was In Epstein Files, Report Says Forbes Why Trump's Epstein Case Against Wall Street Journal Could Backfire On Him Forbes FBI Agents Told To 'Flag' Epstein Files Mentioning Trump, Senator Claims
CNN
19-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Smerconish: Art of the Denial
CNN's Michael Smerconish unpacks the bombshell Wall Street Journal reporting on the alleged birthday letter President Trump sent to Jeffrey Epstein.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump and JD Vance Humiliatingly Flub Response to WSJ Epstein Story
Donald Trump and JD Vance clearly didn't take the time to get their story straight about the president's lewd 50th birthday letter to alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that in 2003, Trump penned Epstein a 'bawdy' note inside of a doodle of a voluptuous woman as part of a book of birthday notes for the financier. The president wrote that he had 'certain things in common' with the child sex offender, and wished his 'pal' that 'everyday may be a wonderful secret.' Trump and his team leapt to discredit the reporting—but unfortunately, they didn't all jump the same way. Vance took to X to defend Trump, claiming that the president's team hadn't even laid eyes on the letter before it was published. 'Forgive my language but this story is complete and utter bullshit. The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it,' Vance wrote. 'Where is this letter? Would you be shocked to learn they never showed it to us before publishing it? Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?' 'Doesn't it violate some rule of journalistic ethics to publish a letter like this without showing it to the victim of this hit piece?' Vance wrote in a separate post. 'Will the people who have bought into every hoax against President Trump show an ounce of skepticism before buying into this bizarre story?' But Trump went a different route, claiming that he'd personally warned the publication that he'd sue them if they published the 'false, malicious, and defamatory' story. 'The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued,' Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. So which was it? Was the Trump administration completely blindsided by the publication of the letter, or did Trump get enough advance warning to personally threaten them with a lawsuit if they published it? And why go to such lengths to prevent publication if the letter is so obviously fake? This latest controversy comes amid a firestorm for the Trump administration, as the MAGA horde have demanded more transparency on the so-called Epstein files, after the Justice Department published a memo claiming that the sex criminal kept no incriminating client list. Trump's attorney general had previously claimed to have that very list sitting on her desk. The mishap has Trump so thoroughly backed into a corner that he's begun claiming that the so-called Epstein files are a hoax created by Democrats, and seething at his supporters for caring about the files at all. It's worth noting that Vance's complaint that the letter doesn't 'sound' like Trump falls completely flat. After all, the note came just one year after Trump was quoted in a 2002 New York Magazine profile of Epstein, calling him a 'terrific guy.' 'He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it—Jeffrey enjoys his social life,' Trump said at the time. Trump's attorney later claimed that the two had 'no relationship.'
Al Jazeera
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
How well did Trump and Epstein really know each other? A timeline
A collection of letters gifted to the deceased, high-profile sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, on his birthday in 2003 includes a birthday note bearing US President Donald Trump's signature, the Wall Street Journal (WSG) reported on Thursday. Trump denies having written the letter and, on Thursday, told Attorney General Pam Bondi to request a court release of the transcripts of all grand jury testimony in the Epstein case. The WSJ claims have reignited intrigue about Trump's relationship with Epstein. We break down how closely, exactly, the two men associated with each other over the years. What was in Trump's birthday letter to Epstein? According to the WSJ report, Epstein was gifted a leather-bound collection of letters and notes for his 50th birthday in 2003. This had been compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's associate and partner, who was later charged as Jeffrey Epstein's accomplice in his sexual abuse operation. She was found guilty in 2021 and is now serving a 20-year prison sentence handed down in 2022. The letter included typewritten text in the third person. It also featured a drawing of a woman's breasts and was signed 'Donald'. The drawing appeared to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker, the WSJ reported. The letter ended with: 'Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Al Jazeera could not independently verify the authenticity of the letter. Following the revelations about the letter, Trump wrote on Truth Social: 'The Wall Street Journal printed a FAKE letter, supposedly to Epstein. These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures. 'I told Rupert Murdoch it was a Scam, that he shouldn't print this Fake Story. But he did, and now I'm going to sue his a** off, and that of his third rate newspaper. Thank you for your attention to this matter! DJT.' He also wrote: 'Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval. This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!' Soon after Trump's statement, Bondi announced on X that the Justice Department planned to request the unsealing of grand jury transcripts in court on Friday. Here's what we know about how well the two men really knew each other. 1980s: Trump and Epstein are friends in 2002, Trump told the New York Magazine that he had been friends with Epstein since about the late 1980s. In the 1980s, Trump was a businessman and a real estate mogul. 'I've known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy,' Trump said. 'He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it – Jeffrey enjoys his social life,' Trump continued. 1990s: Trump and Epstein are spotted at parties together, flying together Through the 1990s, the two men were spotted socialising at high-profile gatherings. In November 1992, Trump threw a party with NFL cheerleaders at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. He had invited NBC to record the event. The tape from the party, published by NBC online in 2019, shows Trump laughing with Epstein, their conversation drowned by the really loud music. In 1997, Epstein and Trump were seen together at the Victoria Secret 'Angels' party in New York. Trump also frequently flew on Epstein's private jets – seven times in total between 1993 and 1997 – according to flight logs presented as evidence during Maxwell's trial. This included four times in 1993, once in 1994, once in 1995 and once in 1997. The flights were between Palm Beach and New York, and they included a stop in Washington, DC. 2000s: The two continue to party, Trump's name in Epstein files There are pictures of the two men at a party at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in 2000. These images also feature Maxwell and Trump's now wife, then known as Melania Knauss. In January 2024, about 950 pages of court documents identifying associates of Epstein were made public. Trump was mentioned in these documents, but was not accused of anything. Virginia Giuffre, one of the women who accused Epstein of sexual abuse, told the court that she was working at Mar-a-Lago when she was recruited by Maxwell to become Epstein's masseuse at the age of 16. Giuffre said that Epstein and Maxwell groomed her into performing sexual acts with adult men, including Prince Andrew. Johanna Sjoberg, another woman who accused Epstein of sexual abuse, recalled a 2001 flight from Florida on which she and Virginia Giuffre, then underage, were among the passengers. Due to a storm, the plane diverted to Atlantic City, where they visited one of Trump's casinos. Sjoberg said of Giuffre: 'I did not know anything about how old you had to be to gamble legally. I just knew she could not get in because of an ID issue, so she and I did not gamble.' Giuffre died by suicide in April this year. 2003: Trump's birthday letter to Epstein The WSJ published the text of a letter allegedly written by Trump for Epstein's birthday. It appears to be in script form: 'Voice Over: There must be more to life than having everything. Donald: Yes, there is, but I won't tell you what it is. Jeffrey: Nor will I, since I also know what it is. Donald: We have certain things in common, Jeffrey. Jeffrey: Yes, we do, come to think of it. Donald: Enigmas never age, have you noticed that? Jeffrey: As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you. Donald: A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.' According to the report, Trump told the WSJ on Tuesday that he did not write the letter, and threatened to sue the publication. 'I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women,' he told the Journal. 'The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued,' Trump reiterated in a post on his Truth Social platform. Rupert Murdoch controls the WSJ's publisher, News Corp. 2004: Trump and Epstein have a real estate dispute In 2004, Trump and Epstein had a falling out over a foreclosed oceanfront mansion in Palm Beach. The Washington Post reported that Trump had outbid Epstein on the property. Since that date, there was sparse public evidence of the two men interacting. 2006: Epstein faces criminal charges In 2005, Florida police investigated claims Epstein had sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl after the girl's parents made the complaint. Epstein was charged by Palm Beach police officials with multiple counts of unlawful sex with a minor. However, the State Attorney took the unusual step of referring the case to a grand jury, which indicted Epstein on a single count of soliciting prostitution. In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to charges involving a single victim. He served 13 months in jail under a work-release programme that permitted him to leave during the day for work and return to jail at night. 2019: Epstein is jailed again and dies in prison During Trump's first presidential term in 2019, federal prosecutors in New York charged Epstein with sex trafficking. In July 2019, Trump was asked by a reporter about Epstein, to which he responded: 'Well, I knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him. I mean, people in Palm Beach knew him. He was a fixture in Palm Beach.' Trump added: 'I had a falling out with him a long time ago. I don't think I've spoken to him for 15 years.' Epstein died in a Manhattan jail cell on August 10, 2019. During an interview after Epstein's death, Trump said about the case: 'I want a full investigation, and that's what I absolutely am demanding.' 2025: Trump's shifting stance on the 'Epstein list' In 2024, while campaigning for the election, Trump said he would release information about the Epstein case. He also appointed Pam Bondi to be the Attorney General. During an interview with Fox News in February, Bondi was asked, 'The DOJ may be releasing the list of Jeffrey Epstein's clients, will that really happen?' She responded, 'It's sitting on my desk right now to review.' However, on July 7, the US Department of Justice released a memo stating that a government review had found no evidence that Epstein had a specific 'secret client list'. The memo also reaffirmed that Epstein had died by suicide, a claim that many conspiracy theorists among Trump's MAGA (Make America Great Again) base disbelieve. They believe Epstein was murdered because he had sensitive information about powerful figures, and that this was covered up. When Trump and Bondi were questioned by reporters about the July 7 memo, Trump said: 'I can't believe you're asking a question on Epstein at a time like this, where we're having some of the greatest success and also tragedy, with what happened in Texas,' referring to flash floods that roiled the southern US state over the weekend before the memo was released, killing 109 people. 'It just seems like a desecration,' Trump added. Trump recently expressed anger towards his supporters over Epstein conspiracy theories. 'Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support anymore!' he wrote on his Truth Social platform on Monday.
Telegraph
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Trump sent Epstein ‘lewd 50th birthday letter'
Donald Trump reportedly told Jeffrey Epstein they had 'certain things in common' in a birthday letter featuring a drawing of a naked woman. The document was included in a leather-bound album by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend, which was later examined by justice department officials investigating the paedophile financier, according to the Wall Street Journal. Mr Trump denied writing the letter or drawing the picture in a statement to the newspaper, declaring it a 'fake Wall Street Journal story'. The letter is said to be typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman which has been drawn in permanent marker. Mr Trump's signature is reportedly positioned below her waist, mimicking her pubic hair. 'A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret,' the letter concludes. The letter, for Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003, imagines a cryptic conversation between the two men, in which Mr Trump tells Epstein: 'We have certain things in common, Jeffrey.' The US president, who has faced rare backlash from his own supporters demanding he release all justice department files related to Epstein, threatened to sue the newspaper over the story. 'This is not me. This is a fake thing. It's a fake Wall Street Journal story,' he said. 'I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women. It's not my language. It's not my words.' He continued: 'I'm going to sue The Wall Street Journal just like I sued everyone else.' It is unclear whether the letter was reviewed by the justice department and FBI when they concluded this month that Epstein did not maintain a 'client list' and there was no reason to release further material on his case.
