A scrapbook compiled for Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday has been released, containing a photograph of the financier holding a novelty cheque bearing Donald Trump’s signature, alongside a caption suggesting Epstein “sold” him a woman for $22,500.
The image, published on social media by Democrats on the US House oversight committee, shows Epstein with Joel Pashcow, a longtime member of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, and a third person, apparently a woman, whose face has been redacted. The caption, apparently written by Pashcow, reads: “Jeffrey showing early talents with money + women! Sells ‘fully depreciated’ [redaction] to Donald Trump for $22,500.” It continues: “Even though I handled the deal I didn’t get any of the money on the girl!”
The cheque is signed “DJ Trump” in a style that differs from most of his signatures from the period.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the woman was someone Epstein and Trump “socialised with” in the 1990s. Her lawyer said she cut ties with Epstein around 1997, had no romantic relationship with either man, did not know Pashcow, and had no knowledge of the note, which she described as a “disgusting and deeply disturbing hoax”. Attempts to contact Pashcow have been unsuccessful.
The scrapbook, referred to as Epstein’s “birthday book”, is believed to have been compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking in 2022 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Democrats began releasing extracts from the book on Monday, amid bipartisan criticism of the Trump administration’s handling of files relating to Epstein. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump pledged to publish a full list of Epstein’s clients, but after taking office in January the justice department said no such list existed. Trump has since dismissed the controversy as a Democratic “hoax”.
Trump and Epstein were known to have been friends for years before falling out in 2004. In July, Trump said the rift was caused by Epstein “stealing” workers from the Mar-a-Lago spa, including Virginia Giuffre, who was later abused by Epstein.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor and died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
NBC reported that Trump declined to comment when contacted by phone on Tuesday, calling the matter a “dead issue”.
Trump has faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, all of which he denies. In 2023 and 2024, civil juries found him liable for sexually abusing writer E Jean Carroll in the 1990s and later defaming her. On Monday, an appeals court ruled he could not claim presidential immunity to avoid paying her $83.3m in damages.
