Again the names and more mentioned, as well as the history of this book bring more questions. Full Times artilce here
NYT Article Summary: Trump & Epstein Birthday Book
A scorching report from The Wall Street Journal and confirmed by The New York Times reveals a leather-bound birthday album prepared for Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003 by Ghislaine Maxwell. It allegedly includes handwritten notes from numerous high-profile figures—including Donald Trump and Bill Clinton New York Magazine+9Axios+9The Guardian+9.
- Trump’s alleged entry: A bawdy sketch of a nude woman and a suggestive imagined dialogue, concluding with: “Happy Birthday—and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Trump denies writing it and has sued the WSJ for defamation citing it as fake and nonexistent The Daily Beast+3Wikipedia+3The Daily Beast+3.
- Clinton’s note: Expressed admiration for Epstein’s curiosity and friendship across years of “learning and knowing” The Daily Beast+4The Guardian+4Politico+4.
- Other entries: Included messages from Leon Black, Vera Wang, Alan Dershowitz, Mortimer Zuckerman, and more—all under the “friends” section Politico+1The Guardian+1.
Congressional push: House Democrats (Reps. Khanna & Garcia) have formally requested a full, unredacted copy from Epstein’s estate by August 10, citing oversight of the DOJ’s handling of Epstein documents CBS NewsThe GuardianABC News.
Most recently, The Daily Beast reinforced that active DOJ officials had reviewed digital copies of the album—including Trump’s supposed entry—during prior investigations The Daily Beast+3The Daily Beast+3New York Magazine+3.
🏁 Takeaways: What This Means
1. The Power of Symbolic Evidence
That birthday book is no casual scrapbook. It’s a curated artifact that cements associations between Epstein and elite figures. The alleged contributions carry symbolic weight—even without criminal implicature.
2. Legal vs. Political Impact
Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the WSJ, denying the entry exists or he ever wrote it. But the political fallout—especially among conservatives and DOJ watchdogs—is escalating, regardless of legal outcomes ABC News+3Vox+3The Daily Beast+3ABC News.
3. Transparency Under Scrutiny
The DOJ initially released a memo claiming there was no “client list” or wrongdoing beyond Epstein, then reversed course—triggering bipartisan outrage, including from Trump allies calling for full disclosure Politico+4Wikipedia+4CBS News+4.
4. High-Profile Contributors
This album isn’t Trump alone. It includes well-known personalities from various industries, showing how Epstein’s social web spanned powerful reaches—raising questions about the depth and intent of those relationships Wikipedia+13The Guardian+13The Daily Beast+13.
5. Timing is Everything
The request for the album comes just before Maxwell’s upcoming deposition (subpoenaed for August 11). Democrats want the full context beforehand—showing how timing matters politically and legally CBS News.