"Jeffrey Epstein's Birthday Book Exposes Dark Ties to Power"

The U.S. House Oversight Committee has released a leather-bound birthday book compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell for Jeffrey Epstein on the occasion of his 50th birthday in 2003. The document, part of a larger set of materials subpoenaed from Epstein’s estate, provides a rare glimpse into the social and professional circles of the disgraced financier before his arrest on sex trafficking charges. The book contains handwritten and typed notes from over 50 individuals, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and attorney Alan Dershowitz, among others.

The book features a range of content, from childhood photographs and candid images of Epstein to more controversial material, such as hand-drawn illustrations and explicit sketches. One such illustration appears to depict Epstein giving balloons to young girls in one panel, while the next shows him receiving a massage from women in revealing attire. The book also includes sheet music, vacation photos, and a typed note attributed to Trump that outlines a scripted conversation between the two men and features a drawing of a nude figure. The White House has denied that Trump authored the note or drawing.

Among the contributors, Clinton’s handwritten message in the book comments on Epstein’s “childlike curiosity” and his ability to maintain a “drive to make a difference.” Dershowitz, a well-known defense attorney, included a satirical magazine cover titled “Vanity Unfair” and joked about shifting media focus from Epstein to Clinton. British Ambassador Peter Mandelson referred to Epstein as his “best pal” and included several vacation photos in his contribution. Notably, the identities of many individuals who are believed to have contributed messages—particularly those in the “girlfriends,” “ex-girlfriends,” and “children” sections—have been redacted to protect potential victims.

The inclusion of high-profile names like Trump and Clinton underscores the extent of Epstein’s connections within political, legal, and financial elite circles. Epstein had previously been a close associate of Trump, but the two had a public falling out in the early 2000s, leading to Trump banning Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago resort. Despite Trump’s repeated denials, the Wall Street Journal conducted a comparison of the signature and drawing in the note with other known samples from Trump, which the paper shared publicly.

The book’s release has reignited public and legal scrutiny over the relationships between Epstein, his associates, and prominent public figures. Trump has characterized the issue as “a dead issue,” while the White House has issued statements disputing his involvement. The document also highlights Maxwell’s active role in curating the book, as she described in the introduction, emphasizing her efforts to collect humorous and heartfelt messages from Epstein’s circle.