A newly uncovered handwritten message has reignited conversations about the relationships between high-profile figures and the late Jeffrey Epstein. Donald Trump, the current president, is at the center of this latest development after a personal inscription to Epstein, dating back to 1997, was made public. The message, which was found in Trump's book "Trump: The Art of the Comeback," was reported by The New York Times and is now adding to the scrutiny over Trump's connections to Epstein.
The inscription, which reads "To Jeff – You are the greatest!" and is signed by Trump, was part of a commemorative project for Epstein's 50th birthday, a project that Trump had previously denied participating in. However, the Times' investigation reveals that Trump's name appears on the list of contributors, which was organized by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former associate who herself has faced significant legal trouble.
Former President Bill Clinton is also embroiled in this controversy with a handwritten message for Epstein's birthday book reported by the Wall Street Journal. Clinton's message reflects on the passage of time and the value of friends, among other sentiments. While a spokesperson for Clinton declined to comment, they referenced past statements indicating that Clinton had severed ties with Epstein long before the financier's arrest in 2019.
The Epstein birthday project, as outlined by Maxwell in a letter to Epstein, aimed to gather memorable stories and photographs. The list of contributors included other notable names such as Leslie H. Wexner, Alan C. Greenberg, and Nobel laureate Murray Gell-Mann.
Amidst these revelations, President Trump took to Truth Social to denounce the coverage as a distraction from his administration's achievements, labeling it as "another Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax" and "the Jeffrey Epstein SCAM." Trump insists that the stories will ultimately reveal a "Democrat CON JOB" and has called for the release of grand jury files to end what he claims is a hoax.
Additional reporting suggests Trump's alleged contributions to Epstein's birthday book included a hand-drawn picture of a naked woman with text, which Trump vehemently denies. He has since filed a lawsuit against the journalists, the publication, and media tycoon Rupert Murdoch for defamation, seeking significant damages and facing the high bar of proving "actual malice."
