Lewd Jeffrey Epstein letter apparently signed by Trump goes public

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released a copy of a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein bearing the signature of President Donald Trump, a note he has denied writing.

The letter posted on social media Sept. 8 shows Trump's purported message to Epstein inside the outline of a woman's body, with the president's signature mimicking pubic hair.

The letter, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal in July, ends with the message: "A pal is a wonderful thing - Happy Birthday and may every day be another wonderful secret."

We got Trump’s birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein that the President said doesn’t exist," the Oversight Committee Democrats posted on social media Sept. 8. "Trump talks about a 'wonderful secret' the two of them shared. What is he hiding? Release the files!"

Trump called the letter a "FAKE" in an earlier social media post and said the Wall Street Journal story is "false, malicious, and defamatory." The president filed a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, its parent company, owner and two reporters claiming libel and slander and seeking $10 billion in damages.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt maintained in a Sept. 8 social media post that Trump didn't draw the picture or sign it, and said the litigation will continue

Deputy White House Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich posted on social media Sept. 8 that the Journal's parent copy would have to "open that checkbook."

"It’s not his signature. DEFAMATION!" Budowich wrote in the post, which included pictures of Trump's signature.

Trump once was a close friend of Epstein, who died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, and his administration has come under intense criticism over its handling of records related to the case.

After members of Trump's orbit stoked concerns about who else might be implicated in Epstein's alleged crimes, the Justice Department attemped to close the book on the speculation with a July 7 memo stating that a "systematic review" of documents "revealed no incriminating 'client list.'" The memo stated that "further disclosure" of records would not "be appropriate or warranted."

That memo sparked outrage, including among Trump's MAGA base.