A US congressional panel has released a redacted copy of an alleged birthday book given to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 celebrating his fiftieth birthday.
The book was released with a trove of documents that include the late convicted paedophile financier's will and his personal address book - with contacts that include royalty, politicians across the globe, celebrities and models.
The 238-page book contains messages and photos sent by many of Epstein's friends, including a letter carrying a signature resembling US President Donald Trump's. Trump has denied ever writing the birthday note.
Epstein, a well-connected financier and convicted sex offender, was found dead by suicide in 2019 while awaiting a trial for sex trafficking.
What was released and why now?
The House Oversight Committee last month issued a legal summons for the executors of Epstein's estate to produce a number of documents, including a birthday book that contains the note purportedly from Trump.
Lawyers for the estate sent documents to the committee afterwards.
On Monday, the committee released the alleged birthday book as well as Epstein's will, entries from his contact books containing addresses from 1990 to 2019, and a non-prosecution agreement signed by him.
The release came with a note from the committee's chairman James Comer, which criticised Democratic members of the committee who earlier on Monday released pages of the book that purportedly contained Trump's signature. The White House denied Trump was involved with the note and said the signature on the note did not match that of the president.
Comer said the Democrats were cherry-picking documents and politicizing information received from the Epstein Estate.
Who wrote in the alleged birthday book?
Entries from 40 people, divided into several categories such as friends, business, science and Brooklyn, were published, though the names under family and girlfriends were redacted.
These people are not accused of any legal wrongdoing in connection with Epstein's case.
The alleged Donald Trump entry which appears on page 165, contains a signed note, with the final line reading: Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret. A woman's body was drawn around the text. This matches descriptions of the letter in July.
The White House confirmed the president did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it.
The document also contained a message apparently written by former US President Bill Clinton, reflecting on Epstein's childlike curiosity and a drive to make a difference. Clinton's office has not responded to inquiries regarding the message.
The entry by Lord Peter Mandelson, currently the UK ambassador to the US, calls Epstein my best pal and includes several photographs. An official spokesperson for Lord Mandelson indicated he regrets ever having been introduced to Epstein, affirming the connection as a matter of public record.
Additionally, an entry mentions an unidentified woman claiming that through Epstein, she met Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, and Trump. She stated she has seen the private quarters of Buckingham Palace and sat on the Queen of England's throne, with Prince Andrew previously denying any wrongdoing.
What are the other entries about?
The entries reflect a wide range of content from people of diverse backgrounds, from White House occupants to women serving as masseuses. Notably, an anonymous woman reminisced about how meeting Epstein transformed her life, enabling her to travel and meet royalty.
The book also features photos from various points in Epstein's life, including images from his private jet and interactions with prominent individuals, with many faces redacted. Some entries included photographs containing provocative scenes, adding to the questionable nature of Epstein's relationships.
