“It’s reassuring isn’t it, to have lasted as long, across all the years of learning and knowing, adventures and [illegible word], and also to have your childlike curiosity, the drive to make a difference and the solace of friends.”
Clinton’s spokesperson declined to comment but referred to a prior statement insisting Clinton had severed all ties with Epstein more than a decade before Epstein’s 2019 arrest. Clinton has long maintained he was unaware of any allegations against Epstein, who was facing child sex trafficking charges when he died by suicide in jail.
The revelation of Clinton’s message came shortly after the Journal published details of a bizarre and salacious letter allegedly sent by Donald Trump, included in the same birthday book. That letter reportedly featured a hand-drawn image of a naked woman, with Trump’s signature appearing provocatively within the sketch, accompanied by a cryptic typed message:
“Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
According to the report, the drawing was made with marker, including outlines of female anatomy and the name “Donald” scribbled in the pubic region.
Trump vehemently denied any involvement, declaring:
“This is not me. This is a fake thing. It’s a fake Wall Street Journal story. I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women. It’s not my language. It’s not my words.”
Despite his claim, several Trump sketches of New York landmarks from the early 2000s are publicly available online.
In response to the Journal’s publication, Trump filed a sweeping defamation lawsuit naming the individual journalists, The Wall Street Journal, News Corp, and Rupert Murdoch himself. He accused the paper of printing a “FAKE letter” and warned:
“I told Rupert Murdoch it was a scam… Now I’m going to sue his ass off, and that of his third-rate newspaper.”
Trump’s legal battle faces the steep “actual malice” standard—he must prove that the Journal knowingly published false information or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. He is seeking $10 billion per defamation count.
The now-infamous letter allegedly included a fictional dialogue between “Donald” and “Jeffrey,” reading in part:
“We have certain things in common, Jeffrey.”
“Yes we do, come to think of it.”
“Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?”
“As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you.”
The publication claims the leather-bound birthday book featured about 20 contributors, including high-powered executives and celebrities, and formed part of the Justice Department’s earlier investigation into Epstein and Maxwell.
Vice President JD Vance blasted the Journal for printing the letter, writing on X:
“This story is complete and utter bulls**t. The WSJ should be ashamed. Where is this letter? They never showed it before publishing. Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?”
The controversy comes amid mounting frustration from MAGA supporters, particularly over Attorney General Pam Bondi’s stalled efforts to release Epstein’s “client list.” In February, Bondi distributed binders dubbed “Phase 1” of the Epstein files to conservative influencers—but they reportedly included only publicly available material. She later claimed the infamous client list “doesn’t exist” and that there is “no evidence” Epstein was murdered, igniting backlash from Trump’s base.
Maxwell, meanwhile, is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein’s criminal network.
As the scandal unfolds, the leather-bound birthday book—once a symbol of Epstein’s power circle—is now ground zero for a legal and political firestorm.