The controversy surrounding Donald Trump’s past ties to Jeffrey Epstein escalated Thursday, after The Wall Street Journal reported on a sexually suggestive letter allegedly written by Trump in 2003 and included in a birthday album for Epstein. Trump denied writing the letter, calling it “false, malicious, and defamatory,” and vowed to sue the paper.
“These are not my words… I don’t draw pictures,” he wrote on social media, referencing the letter’s hand-drawn outline of a naked woman and a note reading, “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
The letter, reportedly collected by Ghislaine Maxwell, came to light as Trump’s administration faced mounting criticism for failing to release promised documents related to the Epstein sex trafficking investigation. Maxwell, a key Epstein associate, was convicted in 2021 for aiding Epstein in the abuse of underage girls.
Despite pledges of transparency, the Justice Department announced recently that it would not make additional Epstein-related evidence public, frustrating Trump supporters and causing a political stir. Trump had earlier derided supporters pushing for document release as “weaklings,” despite years of aligning with those demanding accountability in the Epstein case. He also shielded Attorney General Pam Bondi from further scrutiny after she walked back claims of a supposed “client list.”
On Thursday, amid growing pressure, Trump reversed course and directed Bondi to seek court permission to release grand jury materials. Bondi confirmed she would file for permission but made no promises regarding the broader trove of federal evidence, which she previously said would remain sealed.
Tensions within Trump’s inner circle have fueled confusion over the administration’s Epstein stance. Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino reportedly clashed over the document release, while Bondi refused to comment publicly. The Justice Department’s shift stands in stark contrast to earlier claims of transparency, including the public distribution of binders labeled “Epstein Files: Phase 1.”
Calls for a special counsel were rejected by the White House, and Trump dismissed the controversy as a “hoax,” baselessly blaming Democrats and former officials like Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and James Comey for allegedly fabricating documents. Meanwhile, the Epstein issue even disrupted House proceedings, with Democrats linking document release efforts to budget negotiations.
Trump’s history with Epstein has long been under scrutiny. While he hasn’t been accused of criminal wrongdoing, their past social ties are well-documented. A 1992 video from Mar-a-Lago shows Trump and Epstein chatting and gesturing toward young women — reportedly cheerleaders — on a dance floor. Trump later said he hadn’t spoken to Epstein in over 15 years, describing him as a once-prominent figure in Palm Beach.
Previously released court records include a 2016 deposition from an Epstein accuser who recalled visiting Trump’s Atlantic City casino but made no direct allegations against him.
As backlash over the alleged letter and broken promises on Epstein files intensifies, Trump faces renewed pressure to explain his administration’s handling of one of the most notorious sex trafficking cases in recent memory — a case that continues to raise uncomfortable questions for those in power.