Ties That Weren’t Meant to Be Tied
Clinton Among Those Who Sent Birthday Wishes to Epstein, Journal Reports
The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that former President Bill Clinton was one of several individuals who sent a birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein when he turned 50 in 2003. The revelation adds yet another layer to the already complex public scrutiny surrounding Epstein’s wide network of connections.
Over the years, Clinton’s name has repeatedly surfaced in the Epstein saga. Court filings, flight logs, and various media investigations have made note of ties—though no credible evidence has linked him to Epstein’s criminal conduct. In the latest report, the Journal says the birthday message was penned in what the publication describes as Clinton’s “distinctive scrawl.”
Epstein’s private jet logs from 2002 and 2003 reportedly show that Clinton took multiple flights on the aircraft—to Europe, Asia, and Africa—some legs allegedly connected with charitable work tied to the Clinton Foundation. A Clinton spokesman, Angel Urena, previously stated that the former president flew aboard Epstein’s jet on four occasions and maintained that the trips involved philanthropic and foundation work.
The newly revealed birthday note allegedly reads in part:
“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 team declined to comment specifically on the reported birthday note, instead reaffirming earlier statements that he severed his relationship with Epstein many years before Epstein’s 2019 arrest and was never aware of the nature of Epstein’s illicit activities.
Trump Also Implicated in Birthday Archive
This latest revelation echoes a Wall Street Journal report from the prior week, which claimed that former President Donald Trump had also sent a birthday note to Epstein for his 50th birthday. According to that story, Trump’s letter featured a stylized outline of a nude female figure, with Trump’s signature placed beneath the image in a way some observers interpreted as a crude visual pun. The note reportedly read:
“Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump has strongly denied writing such a note, asserting that he never adds drawings to his correspondence. He has also filed a lawsuit seeking billions in damages against the Journal and its publisher, Rupert Murdoch.
The birthday letters from both Clinton and Trump were reportedly collected by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s close associate and former partner, into a leather-bound album which she presented to Epstein as a gift on his 50th birthday.
Fallout, Accusations, and Legal Tensions
In addition to the birthday note revelations, other controversies in the Epstein case continue to unfold. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice released a two-page memo concluding that Epstein’s death in 2019 was a suicide—an assessment that contradicted many conspiracy theories promoted by Trump-aligned figures and others who alleged foul play or a cover-up.
In parallel, the Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Senator Chuck Grassley, has been pushing to declassify additional documents tied to Justice Department investigations of the 2016 Clinton email probe. Grassley has particularly focused on declassifying the appendix to a 2018 Inspector General report, portions of which reportedly touch on FBI decision-making in the Clinton email investigation.
On the political front, Representative Jim Himes (D‑CT), ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, sharply criticized Gabbard’s release of documents implicating Obama-era intelligence officials, warning the claims were dangerous and could incite violence against individuals named. Himes warned the public discourse around accusations such as “sedition” and “treason” must be handled carefully due to the risk of inflaming extremist elements.
What It All Means
The newly disclosed birthday message from Clinton adds more public intrigue to the network of connections surrounding Epstein. Though past reporting has tied high-profile individuals to Epstein’s social and logistical reach, this note offers a more personal footnote—suggesting a more casual, often overlooked dimension of those ties.
The question now is not just what Epstein did, but how far the strands of association run—and whether past relationships now carry legal or reputational consequences. With multiple fronts of scrutiny open, from DOJ reviews to declassification efforts and lawsuits against media organizations, the Epstein case remains one of the most tangled public mysteries of recent decades.
In the midst of all this, one thing remains clear: the truth has never been fully revealed, and new details—however small—can shift public perception, political narratives, and possibly legal outcomes.