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House Democrats released what they claim is a handwritten note from Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein on Monday, reigniting scrutiny over the president's past relationship with the convicted sex offender.
The note, allegedly written in 2003 for Epstein's 50th birthday, contains a brief message ending with "A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday -- and may every day be another wonderful secret," followed by Trump's signature. The letter is positioned on a sketched outline of a nude woman.
The House Oversight Committee published the document on social media after receiving it from Epstein's estate as part of their investigation into the handling of the criminal case against the disgraced financier.
According to lawmakers, the note was part of a collection of birthday letters compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's longtime associate.
Trump has vehemently denied authoring the letter and filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal after the publication first reported its existence. The president maintains he never sent such correspondence to Epstein.
The release comes as Trump faces mounting questions about his historical ties to Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Epstein had been accused of recruiting underage girls to provide sexual massages at his properties.
The Epstein case has long captivated Trump's political base, with many supporters believing "deep state" actors were shielding Democratic and Hollywood figures connected to the financier.
However, some supporters expressed frustration after federal authorities concluded in July that Epstein acted alone in his suicide and had not maintained a client list or engaged in blackmail schemes against prominent individuals.
Trump's legal team has worked to distance the president from the controversy as investigators continue examining the scope of Epstein's criminal network and the handling of his case by federal authorities.
The president's relationship with Epstein dates back decades, though Trump has downplayed their association since the financier's legal troubles became public.
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