By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – FBI Director Kash Patel on Thursday has agreed to open an investigation into the birthday note that former President Donald Trump allegedly wrote to Jeffrey Epstein on his 50th birthday, media reported.
Patel’s statement came during questioning from Representative Jared Moskowitz during a House Oversight Committee hearing.
White House has insisted the note, released by Epstein’s estate, bears a forged Trump signature.
The document shows the outline of a female figure with a message suggesting that Trump and Epstein “have certain things in common,” The Hill reported.
“You’ve seen the picture of the woman’s body with the president’s signature he says it’s not his. Will you open up an investigation into the Epstein estate for putting out a fake document?” Moskowitz asked. Patel initially questioned the grounds for such an inquiry, but after Moskowitz described it as forgery of a U.S. president’s signature, Patel responded, “Sure, I’ll do it.”
Committee Chair James Comer rejected Democratic calls to invite a handwriting expert to verify the signature, argued the focus should remain on Epstein’s victims and potential government involvement, as reported in media.
“Honestly, when you look at what’s the purpose of this investigation, it’s to try to provide justice to the victims and try to get the truth about what went on Epstein Island, and to answer the question, ‘Was the government involved?’ I don’t think a birthday card 20 years ago has any relevance whatsoever,” Comer said at the time.
Trump has sued The Wall Street Journal for defamation over a July report detailing the alleged letter, while the White House continues to deny its authenticity.
“It’s very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier this month, adding that Trump’s legal team will “continue to aggressively pursue litigation.”
Trump dismissed demands for transparency in the Jeffrey Epstein case, called the push for more disclosures a “Democrat hoax,” media reported.
“It’s really a Democrat hoax, because they’re trying to get people to talk about something that’s totally irrelevant to the success that we have had as a nation since I have been president, said Trump, responding to reporters.
The remarks came as pressure mounts in the US Congress for the release of the full set of Epstein case files.
