House Seeks Epstein's Birthday Book in Bid to Uncover Hidden Ties

The House Oversight Committee has issued a subpoena to the estate of Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, demanding documents and communications relevant to its investigation into the federal government's handling of Epstein's case. The subpoena, delivered by Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), requires the co-executors of Epstein's estate to provide material spanning from 1990 through August 2019, covering a range of subjects including interactions with various U.S. presidents and vice presidents, video footage from Epstein’s properties, and his contact and address books. Additionally, the committee seeks a leather-bound book compiled by Epstein's associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, for his 50th birthday, the 2008 non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Epstein’s will [1].

This move is part of a broader investigation into potential mismanagement and ethical violations by elected officials, as well as the operation of sex-trafficking rings and strategies to combat them [2]. The committee’s efforts include scrutinizing the non-prosecution agreement between Epstein and the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Florida in 2008, which allowed Epstein to avoid federal prosecution while pleading guilty to state charges. Alex Acosta, who was the U.S. attorney at the time and later served as secretary of labor under President Trump, is set to provide voluntary testimony on September 19 [1].

The subpoena also targets materials that could further the committee’s understanding of the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death in 2019, which was ruled a suicide. The committee has indicated that the Epstein estate appears willing to comply with the subpoena [2]. In a related development, the Department of Justice (DOJ) conducted a two-day interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted co-conspirator, where she denied any knowledge of a client list or blackmail schemes. Maxwell stated that she did not observe any inappropriate behavior by high-profile individuals associated with Epstein, including President Trump and Bill Clinton [3].

Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epstein's trafficking operation, claimed that she had no involvement in the recruitment of underage girls for sexual purposes. She also disputed allegations that Trump or Clinton were involved in any wrongdoing, asserting that Trump was “a gentleman in all respects” and that Clinton had no independent relationship with Epstein [3]. During the interview, Maxwell was quizzed about numerous prominent figures, including Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and several political leaders, but she maintained that she never witnessed or heard of any illicit activities involving these individuals [4].

The DOJ’s decision to interview Maxwell was part of a broader effort to address public concerns and conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein’s case, particularly those fueled by Trump supporters. The administration faced backlash after revealing that unreleased evidence included explicit videos but no incriminating “client list.” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who led the interview, aimed to quell the controversy by engaging directly with Maxwell, despite her history of being described as a serial liar by prosecutors [4]. Maxwell’s legal team has since requested a pardon from President Trump, though she has not yet been approached by the administration for such relief [3].

The transcripts of the interview, released by the DOJ, have provided limited new insights into the Epstein saga, reinforcing Maxwell’s claims that she did not witness any misconduct. She also disputed allegations that Epstein paid her large sums of money to keep her quiet, stating that the funds were used for investments and personal expenses [4]. The DOJ’s actions, including the interview with Maxwell and the partial release of the Epstein files, reflect an ongoing attempt to address public scrutiny while balancing the interests of transparency and national security [1].

Source: [1] House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (https://oversight.house.gov/release/chairman-comer-provides-update-on-review-of-the-federal-governments-investigation-of-epstein-and-maxwell/) [2] CBS News (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-oversight-committee-subpoena-jeffrey-epstein-estate-trump-birthday-letter-book/) [3] ABC News (https://abcnews.go.com/US/ghislaine-maxwell-provided-no-incriminating-information-meetings-deputy-ag/story?id=124894271) [4] Politico (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/22/ghislaine-maxwell-jeffrey-epstein-donald-trump-interview-00520352)