House Democrats demand access to Epstein’s 2003 'birthday book' containing alleged letter from Trump

Representatives Ro Khanna and Robert Garcia have called for the immediate release of an unredacted copy of the document
The Wall Street Journal earlier reported that the birthday album, compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell for Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday, apparently included a 'bawdy' letter from Donald Trump (Getty Images)
The Wall Street Journal earlier reported that the birthday album, compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell for Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday, apparently included a 'bawdy' letter from Donald Trump (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: House Democrats are intensifying their efforts to uncover withheld materials related to Jeffrey Epstein’s extensive network, now demanding access to a document known as the “birthday book.”

A 2003 compilation allegedly put together by Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003 to commemorate the disgraced financier's 50th birthday is said to contain a provocative letter from President Donald Trump.

House Democrats demand access to Jeffrey Epstein’s 'birthday book' said to contain an explicit letter from Donald Trump

In a formal request sent on Friday, July 25, to attorneys representing Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, Representatives Ro Khanna and Robert Garcia, both California Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, called for the immediate release of an unredacted copy of the document.

The lawmakers framed the book as a potential key to understanding not only Epstein’s social circles, but also why certain documents were selectively declassified by the Trump administration and others kept hidden.

U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on February 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is holding the first Cabinet meeting of his second term, joined by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump listens during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on February 26, 2025, in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

“Recent public reporting indicates that the Estate of Jeffrey Epstein is in possession of a document commonly referred to as ‘the birthday book,’ compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003,” the letter reads. “This book has clear relevance to this case.”

“The book is relevant for ongoing congressional oversight of the Department of Justice's handling of the Epstein investigation and prosecution, as well as the Trump administration's decision to declassify and release only a handful of documents from its Epstein files while withholding others from the public,” it continued.

Democratic lawmakers have formally demanded a “complete, unredacted copy” of the Epstein "birthday book" by August 10.

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 20:  Ghislaine Maxwell attends day 1 of the 4th Annual WIE Symposium at Cen
Ghislaine Maxwell attends Day 1 of the 4th Annual WIE Symposium at Center 548 on September 20, 2013, in New York City (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee is conducting its own investigation into the Epstein case and has issued a separate subpoena for Maxwell, Epstein’s incarcerated associate, to appear for a deposition on August 11.

Donald Trump sues Wall Street Journal for $10 billion over Jeffrey Epstein birthday letter story

Portrait of American financier Jeffrey Epstein (left) and real estate developer Donald Trump as they pose together at the Mar-a-Lago estate, Palm Beach, Florida, 1997. (Photo by Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)
Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump pose together at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, in 1997 (Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)

Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion libel lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, its reporters, and parent company Dow Jones, claiming the outlet published "false, defamatory, unsubstantiated, and disparaging" information tying him to Epstein.

At the center of the lawsuit is a WSJ article published earlier this month that claimed a 2003 “birthday book” compiled by Epstein’s longtime associate Maxwell contained a "bawdy" letter signed by Trump, along with others from high-profile friends and acquaintances of the disgraced financier.

The president has denied the claim, dismissing the story as “fake” and part of a politically motivated effort to damage his reputation.

The legal filing includes two counts of defamation, each seeking at least $10 billion in damages, and accuses WSJ of committing “clear journalistic failures” by publishing unverified content intended to suggest an enduring relationship between Trump and Epstein.

In a statement responding to the lawsuit, a Dow Jones spokesperson defended the newspaper’s integrity, saying, “We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”

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