The Department of Justice (DOJ) has declared a postcard, allegedly sent by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein to convicted child molester Larry Nassar, as a fraudulent document. This announcement came after the postcard surfaced on Monday night amid a wider release of documents, drawing immediate scrutiny.
The handwritten postcard, postmarked August 13, 2019 — three days after Epstein was discovered deceased in his New York prison cell — was addressed to "L.N.," coinciding with Nassar's initials. The note, signed with Epstein's name, ominously wished Nassar "Good luck!" and made references to a shared affinity for "young ladies." The content of the postcard, including a phrase about grabbing, was quickly deemed inflammatory and sparked controversy.
However, the DOJ swiftly responded, pointing out several inconsistencies that undermined the document's legitimacy. Federal officials highlighted that the handwriting did not match Epstein's, the postmark originated from Northern Virginia rather than New York where Epstein was incarcerated, and the return address failed to comply with federal regulations, lacking the correct facility name and Epstein's inmate number.
The DOJ issued a statement on Tuesday, emphasizing their commitment to transparency and victim protection during the document release process. They addressed the postcard and other documents containing unfounded allegations against President Trump, which had been submitted to the FBI prior to the 2020 election. The statement was disseminated through social media platform X, where the department maintains official communication.
The postcard, which was found in the New York prison's mailroom, marked 'returned to sender,' had been a part of the nearly 30,000 pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, released by the DOJ. Despite the initial confirmation of the letter's inauthenticity, the department later revised its statement, noting that an investigation into the postcard's validity was underway, reiterating the key inconsistencies.
Larry Nassar, the infamous former USA Olympic doctor, was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison in December 2017. His heinous crimes impacted around 300 athletes, with Olympic champions Simone Biles and McKayla Maroney among his many victims. Their powerful testimonies before Congress underscored the enduring psychological damage wrought by Nassar's actions.
The Associated Press first reported on the existence of the postcard in 2023, but it was only with this latest document release that the public had its first glimpse. The discovery ignited a mix of skepticism and morbid humor online, as evidenced by a tweet from user BKactual, who mockingly referred to the postcard as “legit; pedo project.”
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed on November 19, mandated the release of these documents, with a 30-day deadline for the DOJ. While Friday's release involved a substantial number of files, officials acknowledged that hundreds of thousands of documents remain undisclosed, pending further review and release.
