Files from a “birthday book” compiled for the paedophile sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein by co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell have been released publicly for the first time.
This article contains images and language that some readers may find disturbing
The 238-page book, released by the Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, appears to show messages from several high-profile acquaintances of Epstein to mark his 50th birthday, which was in 2003.
They appear to include messages from the likes of Donald Trump and the UK ambassador to Washington, Lord Peter Mandelson.
They are among dozens of messages, seemingly from childhood friends, former girlfriends, and people who came to know him after he became a wealthy financier.
The book would have been made three years before allegations of sex abuse by Epstein became public in 2006.
Here’s what the documents show us.
Alleged notes and drawing from Trump
The birthday note signed ‘Donald J. Trump’ – which the president has denied sending – features words inside the drawn outline of a woman.
It begins with a ‘voice over’ which says: “There must be more to life than having everything.”
It then presents a presumably fictitious exchange between ‘Donald’ and ‘Jeffrey’ about having “certain things” in common.
Scroll to see more images released from the ‘birthday book’
The message concludes: “Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
It ends with a signature similar to Mr Trump’s drawn across the woman’s waist, which some have interpreted to mimic the appearance of pubic hair.
The note was first published in part by The Wall Street Journal in July, prompting Mr Trump to launch legal action and sue the “ass off” Rupert Murdoch, who owns the paper.
He denied writing the letter, calling it “fake” and adding: “These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures.”
After the full image was released by the House Oversight Committee, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “As I have said all along, it’s very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it.
“President Trump’s legal team will continue to aggressively pursue litigation.”
There is also a partially redacted image of Epstein holding an oversized cheque signed “DJTRUMP”.
A handwritten note below the photo reads: “Jeffrey showing early talents with money + women! Sells ‘fully depreciated’ [redacted] to Donald Trump for $22,500.”
The president has generally denied any impropriety involving Epstein, whom he once counted as a friend.
Mandelson’s message about ‘interesting friends’
The documents include what appears to be a birthday note from UK ambassador Lord Mandelson, who refers to Epstein as “my best pal”.
It begins with him appearing to reminisce about the first time he met Epstein, before alluding to how the financier would often leave one alone with some “interesting friends to entertain”.
It is not clear what was meant by these so-called ‘interesting friends’, but the line is accompanied by an image of two people with their faces obscured or redacted.
The note references Epstein “taking you by surprise… in one of his glorious homes he likes to share with his friends (yum yum)”.
Pictures of Lord Mandelson appear on the pages, which include an image of a tropical island.
Previously, a 2019 report by JP Morgan bank suggested Lord Mandelson stayed at Epstein’s New York flat in 2009, while the disgraced financier was serving an 18-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to procuring a person under the age of 18 for prostitution.
Sky News asked Lord Mandelson about the story in May this year, to which he responded: “I’m not answering any questions about him. My knowledge of him is something I regret, I wish I’d never met him in the first place.”
Asked why he had an association with Epstein while he was in jail, Lord Mandelson replied: “Why did many people meet him? He was a prolific networker and I wish I’d never met him in the first place.”
Message from Clinton highlights his ‘childlike curiosity’
Included in the birthday book is a message seemingly signed by former president Bill Clinton, which references Epstein’s “childlike curiosity”.
“It’s reassuring isn’t it, to have lasted as long, across all the years of learning and knowing… and also to have your childlike curiosity, the drive to make a difference and the solace of friends,” the note reads.
Mr Clinton was among those acquainted with Epstein before the criminal investigation against him in Florida became public two decades ago. He has never been accused of wrongdoing by any of the women who say Epstein abused them.
Mr Clinton previously said, through a spokesperson, that while he travelled on Epstein’s jet, he never visited his homes and had no knowledge of his crimes.
‘I’ve sat on the Queen of England’s throne’
The book’s contents were split into sections separating entries from people with different relationships to Epstein, from family, to “girlfriends”, another section marked “girl-friends”, colleagues and, towards the end of the book, assistants.
One person in the latter category, who did not sign their message, writes about a series of places they have been and things they have done since meeting Epstein.
Included on the list is meeting the likes of Prince Andrew, Mr Clinton and Mr Trump, as well as seeing the private quarters of Buckingham Palace and sitting on the ‘Queen of England’s throne’.
Revealing photos, cryptic drawings and lewd references
In the book’s prologue, Maxwell, Epstein’s lover-turned-friend, tells the 50-year-old she hopes he will “derive as much pleasure looking through it as I did putting it together for you”.
While the book starts with messages from Epstein’s family and photos of him in his younger years, it soon becomes plastered with photos of women – some naked and some in bikinis – many of which have been partially redacted.
Several of the images come from women whose messages are listed in the “assistants” section. One concludes her message by writing, “What else can I say butt…” before including an image of an unidentified man slipping his hand down the back of a woman’s jeans.
There are also numerous images of men in tight bathing suits, many including Epstein.
Many of the messages contain compliments to Epstein regarding both his personality and his career achievements.
One such message comes towards the end of the book from late Bear Stearns CEO Alan “Ace” Greenberg, who writes: “Working with Jeffrey has been a pleasure and watching his meteoric success has given me many vicarious thrills.”
There are also cryptic sketches and edited images included by various contributors.
As well as the birthday book, the documents released include Epstein’s will, his contact books, agreements he signed with prosecutors and his financial transactions and holdings.
