House release shows alleged Trump note and sketch in Epstein 'birthday book'; Trump denies authorship

On September 8, 2025, House Oversight Democrats released images from Jeffrey Epstein's 2003 50th 'birthday book,' including a sketch of a woman and a short note that bears an alleged Donald J. Trump signature.

The Oversight Committee obtained the birthday book as part of documents it subpoenaed from Epstein's estate after subpoenas were issued in late August 2025; the release did not follow an 18-month fight with the estate.

President Trump denied authoring the note or the sketch and said the signature and language were not his. He announced and filed a $10 billion defamation suit against Dow Jones/The Wall Street Journal in July 2025 over earlier reporting.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed Ghislaine Maxwell on July 24-25, 2025. Maxwell told investigators she could not recall whether Mr. Trump had contributed to the birthday book.

Robert Garcia is the top Democrat (ranking member) on the House Oversight Committee and publicly said the committee 'secured' the birthday book. Representative James Comer is the Republican chair of the committee and said the release was politically selective.