Topline
The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s estate Monday, requesting it turn over a list of documents including a “birthday book” that allegedly contains a letter from President Donald Trump, according to a Wall Street Journal story the president is suing the news outlet over.
The subpoena was filed Monday. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Key Facts
The subpoena is signed by committee chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., and demands a “leather bound book” compiled by Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell for the disgraced financier’s 50th birthday.
It also demands the estate turn over the last will and testament of Epstein, all disclosure agreements executed by Epstein between 1990 and 2010 and “any document or record that could be reasonably construed to be a potential list of clients involved in sex, sex acts, or sex trafficking facilitated by” Epstein.
The letter from Trump allegedly in the “birthday book” was characterized by the Journal as “bawdy,” reportedly containing lines of typewritten text within the outline of a hand-drawn naked woman with a squiggly “Donald” signed below her waist to mimic pubic hair.
Comer said in a statement the committee is “reviewing the possible mismanagement of the federal government’s investigation” of Epstein and Maxwell, as well as the circumstances around Epstein’s death in 2019.
The subpoena requests the documents be turned over by Sept. 8.
Forbes has reached out to the White House for comment.
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What Has Trump Said About The “birthday Book” And Epstein Files?
Trump accused the Journal of describing a “fake letter” in its report, claiming, “These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures.” The president has insisted the Epstein files are a “big hoax” and blasted his critics as “weaklings.” Trump has also said “PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bull—-,’ hook, line, and sinker.”
Tangent
Bradley Edwards, an attorney for some of Epstein’s victims, told MSNBC in July the existence of the book “is an absolute fact” and that Epstein’s estate would likely comply with a subpoena for it. Estate representatives told MSNBC it “will comply with all lawful process.”
Big Number
97%. That is the share of Epstein files recently shared by the Justice Department with Congress that House Oversight Committee Democrats have said were already public.
Key Background
Trump has faced increased scrutiny over his administration’s handling of the Epstein files. Last year, the president told Fox News he would declassify the files. Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News this year the Epstein client list was “sitting on my desk right now” before later claiming she was referring to documents related to Epstein’s prosecution. Tensions reached a fever pitch after the Justice Department said in a July 7 memo there would be no further release of Epstein records and it did not have an alleged Epstein client list. The Trump administration appeared to attempt to appease renewed public and political interest in the files by asking courts to unseal the grand jury materials in the cases against Maxwell and Epstein, though attempts have so far been unsuccessful as critics have said the materials will not reveal as much as the Epstein files held by the Justice Department. The DOJ released last week the full transcript of an interview with Maxwell in which she said she never witnessed any “inappropriate” behavior by people connected to Epstein, including Trump and former President Bill Clinton, though Maxwell has faced criticism for allegedly lying under oath in the past.
Further Reading
Trump Rips ‘Weaklings’ Who Criticized Handling Of Epstein Files—Calls It ‘Big Hoax’ (Forbes)
Democrats Say 97% Of Epstein Files Given To Congress Were Already Public (Forbes)
Read More
Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes Staff