US President Donald Trump is once again surrounded by a storm of controversy. He has been facing criticism for his trade policies, especially the recent tariff move against India, and now an entirely different issue has come to the surface. This time, the matter involves Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender whose name has been tied to several high-profile scandals. The latest uproar began after the House Oversight Committee released what it described as Trump’s alleged sexually suggestive letter to Epstein, written back in 2003.

According to committee members, they received the material on Monday (9th September). The documents were part of a so-called birthday book presented to Epstein on his 50th birthday. Inside it was a letter that carried Donald Trump’s signature, alongside another letter containing a crude reference to Trump from one of Epstein’s associates. The Democrats quickly took this matter to social media. Posting on X, they declared: “We got Trump’s birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein that the President said doesn’t exist. Trump talks about a ‘wonderful secret’ the two of them shared. What is he hiding? Release the files!”

The Wall Street Journal had already reported about this “birthday book” in July this year. According to the report, the letter was typewritten and placed within the drawing of a naked woman. It ended with the words: “Happy Birthday, and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Beneath the waist of the figure was a scribbled signature — a squiggly “Donald” meant to mimic pubic hair. [Source: Wall Street Journal coverage – WSJ, July 2025].

Trump, however, has strongly rejected these claims. He denied both writing the letter and drawing the surrounding image of the woman. Going further, he filed a massive libel lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and the reporters who worked on the article. The lawsuit, according to Trump, is worth at least USD 20 billion. He insisted that the alleged letter was nothing more than a “fake thing.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced the lawsuit in his characteristic style, writing: “BREAKING NEWS: We have just filed a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit against everyone involved in publishing the false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS ‘article’ in the useless ‘rag’ that is, The Wall Street Journal. This historic legal action is being brought against the so-called authors of this defamation, the now fully disgraced WSJ, as well as its corporate owners and affiliates, with Rupert Murdoch and Robert Thomson (whatever his role is!) at the top of the list…”

The White House also weighed in on the matter. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the entire story, calling it “false” and adding that it was simply another attempt to push what she described as the “Democrat Epstein Hoax!” She later doubled down on X, stating: “The latest piece published by the Wall Street Journal PROVES this entire ‘Birthday Card’ story is false. As I have said all along, it’s very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it. President Trump’s legal team will continue to aggressively pursue litigation. Furthermore, the ‘reporter’ @joe_palazzolo who wrote this hatchet job reached out for comment at the EXACT same minute he published his story giving us no time to respond. This is FAKE NEWS to perpetuate the Democrat Epstein Hoax!”

At the heart of the controversy are the so-called Epstein files. These are sealed records connected to Epstein’s criminal activities and have long captured the attention of the American public. Many, including Trump’s own supporters, have been demanding their release. Interestingly, when Trump assumed office as President in January this year, Attorney General Bondi suggested that all Epstein-related documents, including the rumored “client list” of influential figures linked to Epstein’s sex trafficking ring, would be made public. But after taking office, Trump appears to have changed his stance, now calling the Epstein files and the entire investigation a “Democrats peddled hoax.”

Who was Jeffrey Epstein?

Jeffrey Epstein was a wealthy American financier whose life and activities became the center of some of the most shocking scandals in modern US history. His fall from power started when a Florida state court convicted him for procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute. For this, he served 13 months in jail. But the scandal did not end there. In July 2019, Epstein was arrested once again, this time facing charges of sex trafficking of minors in Florida and New York. He never completed his trial, as in August 2019, just a month later, he died while in custody. His death was officially ruled a suicide, though it has remained one of the most controversial episodes in recent American history.

The term “Epstein files” refers to the bulk of investigative documents compiled during years of federal probes into his crimes. These files are said to contain sensitive material, including flight logs from his private aircraft, detailed contact lists, accounting records, and even videos allegedly documenting abuse. Such records have kept alive both public anger and curiosity, especially as many believe they could expose powerful people with ties to Epstein.

What do we know about the Epstein files?

For weeks, the phrase “Epstein files” has been haunting the Trump administration. The controversy is fueled by Epstein’s legacy as a convicted paedophile financier and the disturbing details of his sex crimes. The demand for clarity is not just coming from the opposition — even President Donald Trump’s own supporters and members of his Republican Party have been pressing for more transparency.

According to Republican chairman James Comer, the US Justice Department is preparing to hand over documents to Congress after the House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena in August. Comer confirmed this week that the panel should start receiving the first materials on Friday. The committee has gone even further by issuing subpoenas to eight former law enforcement leaders, and also to high-profile figures such as former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton [Source: CNN, Sept 2025].

Reports have also surfaced that Trump himself was told in May by his attorney general that his name appeared in the files. It is important to note that he was known to be friends with Epstein during the 1990s and early 2000s. However, being mentioned in the files is not the same as being accused of a crime. So far, Trump has never faced any charges of wrongdoing linked to Epstein.

Interestingly, during his 2024 election campaign, Trump had suggested he was open to releasing more information. But earlier this month, his tone shifted. He dismissed the matter, calling the case closed and even criticized some of his own supporters for continuing to push him on the issue.

What are the Epstein files?

The origins of Epstein’s criminal record date back to 2008, when prosecutors in Florida struck a plea deal with him after the parents of a 14-year-old girl accused Epstein of molesting their daughter at his Palm Beach mansion. During that investigation, photos of underage girls were discovered throughout his house. He was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor and became a registered sex offender. Because of the plea deal, he escaped what could have been a much harsher prison sentence.

More than a decade later, in 2019, he was once again charged — this time with running an extensive network of underage girls for sex. He died in custody before the trial could proceed. Together, these two criminal probes generated a huge body of evidence: thousands of pages of interview transcripts with victims and witnesses, seized items from property raids, and official records.

Investigators also carried out a separate probe into Epstein’s close associate and former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. In 2021, she was convicted of conspiring with Epstein to traffic girls for sex. Both she and Epstein were also named in numerous civil lawsuits brought by victims.

What has already been released on Epstein?

Over the years, various batches of documents tied to Epstein and Maxwell have been made public. In January 2024, one release included 1,400 pages of records, which contained depositions with both Epstein and Maxwell. Some of the names of high-profile people appeared in the Maxwell files, but there were no new shocking revelations about Epstein’s broader circle.

A few weeks after Trump entered office in February 2025, the Department of Justice and the FBI rolled out what they called the “first phase of the declassified Epstein files.” The White House invited a group of right-wing influencers for the event, but disappointment followed. They discovered that the 341 pages made available were mostly recycled material already accessible in the public domain. Among the contents were Epstein’s flight logs and a redacted contacts book with names of famous acquaintances.

Finally, in July 2025, the Department of Justice and FBI issued a memo declaring that no further material would be released. This official stance has only deepened suspicions among critics who argue that critical pieces of information are still being kept hidden from the public.

Who is named in the Epstein files?

The controversy around the Epstein files has only deepened as new names continue to surface. According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump himself is named in unreleased documents that relate to Epstein, and was told as much by Attorney General Pam Bondi in May. The paper noted that being named in the files was not evidence of wrongdoing.

The White House reaction to this report reflected confusion and division. Spokesman Steven Cheung pushed back, calling the story "fake", while at the same time, an unnamed official speaking to Reuters said the administration did not dispute that Trump's name was included.

The actual contents of the unreleased documents remain sealed. Still, materials already in the public domain have shed some light. They include references to several high-profile individuals who were known to be connected to Epstein in different capacities. Importantly, this does not imply any wrongdoing by those individuals.

Court documents released in 2024 ran into hundreds of pages and included dozens of names. Among them were Prince Andrew, former US President Bill Clinton and Michael Jackson, who were identified as associates, friends, or alleged victims in the 900 pages that became public. Both Clinton and the British royal have firmly denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. Michael Jackson, on the other hand, died in 2009.

Further documents tied to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s long-time partner, have also been released. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for child sex trafficking, and her trial placed renewed attention on Epstein’s network and the lingering secrets around his case.

Is there an Epstein client list?

Over the years, speculation has persisted about a possible “client list” hidden within the Epstein files. It has been suggested that unreleased Epstein files could contain a so-called client list that might implicate high-profile associates besides Maxwell in his criminal operation.

But official agencies have consistently denied this. In their memo in July, the DoJ and FBI stated that no such list existed. However, conspiracy theories persist. Much of the confusion has been amplified by conflicting statements. The purported list has sometimes been conflated with the wider Epstein files, and remarks by Bondi have fuelled the confusion.

One key moment came when Bondi, earlier in the year, appeared to contradict her own department’s later clarification. The statement by Bondi's justice department that there was no client list appeared to contradict her comments earlier in the year. When asked by Fox News interviewer about the rumoured list in February, she responded: "It's sitting on my desk right now to review." Her office later explained that she was only referring to the general Epstein files, not a separate list.

What do we know about Trump/Epstein relationship?

Epstein and Trump were part of overlapping social circles for years. Trump and Epstein appear to have been friends for a number of years, keeping a similar social circle. Evidence from previously released documents shows that Trump's details were in Epstein's so-called black book of contacts. Flight logs also showed Trump flying on Epstein's plane on several occasions.

They were often photographed together. They were pictured together at elite events in the 1990s, and photos recently published by CNN purport to show Epstein in attendance at Trump's wedding to then-wife Marla Maples.

Trump himself once spoke warmly about Epstein. In 2002, Trump described Epstein as a "terrific guy". Epstein would later remark: "I was Donald's closest friend for 10 years." Their friendship, however, ended in the early 2000s. According to Trump, they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested. By 2008, Trump was saying that he had not been "a fan of his."

The White House has recently suggested that the rift was caused by Epstein’s conduct. It claimed that "the president kicked him out of his club for being a creep". Yet, other reporting has pointed to different reasons. The Washington Post, meanwhile, has suggested that the breakdown in their relationship was due to their rivalry over some real estate in Florida.

Why are people so interested in Epstein?

The fascination with Epstein’s story goes far beyond his crimes. For many in the United States, his case has become the centerpiece of deeper conspiracy theories. Die-hard members of Trump's MAGA movement have long believed officials are hiding key truths about Epstein's life and death.

Among this group, one of the most extreme theories suggests that a child-molesting cabal has been operating at the highest levels of US society, protected by the state. The theory spread through cryptic messages posted by a pseudonymous character called Q. In other versions of the conspiracy, Epstein was an agent of the Israeli government.

Such theories have not been limited to outsiders. Some Trump allies have tried to quell the backlash. Last month, Republican House announced an early recess for the chamber, stalling efforts to force the release of Epstein-related documents within 30 days.

Beyond the conspiracy theories, there are broader questions shared by ordinary citizens. There are several unanswered questions about Epstein shared by the wider population too - particularly why he was given such a lenient sentence in Florida, whether he and Maxwell were really acting alone and how he was allowed to take his own life in prison.

Ironically, Trump himself and his team once leaned into these theories during their campaign. Trump and his team hyped up the theories when they were running for office but now they are in power they have found themselves unable to convince their supporter base that there are no more questions to answer.