(Corrects paragraph 14 to say ‘after,’ not ‘before’ book was compiled)
(Reuters) -Donald Trump’s name appeared on a risque 2003 personal note to Jeffrey Epstein, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. The president responded that the letter was fake.
The Journal reported that the letter was one of several included in a leather-bound album meant to celebrate Epstein’s 50th birthday, about three years before sex-abuse allegations emerged against the financier.
Reuters could not immediately confirm the authenticity of the letter.
Trump quickly responded to the story on his Truth Social platform, saying he would sue the newspaper and Rupert Murdoch, who controls its publisher, News Corp.
“The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued,” Trump wrote. “President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly.”
A spokesperson for the Wall Street Journal and its parent company, Dow Jones & Co, declined to comment on its story or Trump’s threat to sue. Representatives for News Corp and Murdoch could not immediately be reached for comment.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
The White House has been roiled by questions about disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Epstein, after the Justice Department this month concluded that there was no evidence to support a number of long-held conspiracy theories about his clients and 2019 death in prison.
Attorney General Pam Bondi had pledged months earlier to reveal major revelations about Epstein, including “a lot of names” and “a lot of flight logs.”
Some Trump supporters have demanded the release of more information on Epstein, causing a rare fracture within his base of support. Trump has pushed back.
“It’s all been a big hoax,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, as calls increased for the release of more information on Epstein’s clients.
The Journal said the letter, bearing Trump’s name, contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appeared to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker. The newspaper said the letter concludes “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,” and featured the signature “Donald.”
Vice President JD Vance responded to the story on X, saying, “Forgive my language but this story is complete and utter bullshit. The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it.”
Allegations that Epstein had been sexually abusing girls became public in 2006 – after the birthday book was compiled – and he was arrested that year before accepting a plea deal. Epstein died in 2019 in jail after he was arrested a second time and charged with sex-trafficking conspiracy.
(Reporting By Jarrett Renshaw; Additional reporting by Dawn Chmielewski; Editing by Scott Malone and William Mallard)
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