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 along with a trove of documents including Epstein's will and personal address book with contacts that span across royalty, politicians, celebrities, and models.

The 238-page book contains messages from many of Epstein's friends, featuring a letter with a signature resembling that of former President Donald Trump, who has denied writing the birthday note. Epstein, a well-connected financier and convicted sex offender, was found dead by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.

The House Oversight Committee issued a legal summons last month for the executors of Epstein's estate to produce various documents, including this birthday book. Following the release, controversy arose regarding Trump's involvement and the scope of Epstein's connections.

The note allegedly written by Trump contains a sketch and includes an imagined dialogue hinting at intimate knowledge between the two, concluding with the line: 'A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret.'

The release of the birthday book and the associated documents has stirred a political storm, with opinions divided across party lines about the implications of Epstein's connections with high-profile figures such as Trump and former President Bill Clinton, whose name appeared in other messages. The political fallout from these revelations continues to evolve, with calls for further transparency stemming from both sides of the aisle.