Trump issues 4-word statement as he's accused of 'lewd birthday greeting' to Epstein

Donald Trump has issued a defiant four-word statement in response to accusations of a birthday message he sent to Jeffrey Epstein. The US President has been accused of sending a sketch of a woman's nude silhouette with a message inside to the convicted paedophile. The note was reportedly part of a 2003 birthday album put together by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's ex-girlfriend.

The apparent birthday card states the two men had "certain things in common" and it ends with the line: "Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret."

However, Mr Trump has denied sending the message, and is suing the Wall Street Journal, who revealed the story in July, including Rupert Murdoch, for £7.4bn over its reporting.

The US President has said the reports of him sending the letter are "false, malicious, and defamatory".

"These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures," Mr Trump said.

The alleged message was published after Mr Epstein's estate gave the House oversight committee a copy of the birthday album.

The committee confirmed on Monday that it had received a copy of the book, which also includes letters from other high-profile individuals.

A number of other documents were also handed over which they subpoenaed, including Epstein's will, non-disclosure agreements, and pictures and video taken at the financiers properties or "referring or relating to... presidents and vice-presidents of the United States".

The committee has demanded for Epstein's "little black book" to be handed over too - Mr Trump has been accused of being listed in the "friends" section of the book.

The WSJ also reported that Bill Clinton and over a dozen of other associates were on the same list.

A Clinton Spokesperson highlighted a previous statement of Mr Clinton's friendship with Epstein ending over a decade before his arrest.

The US President has faced scrutiny over his friendship with the paedophile. The pair had reportedly been friends, yet Mr Trump said he severed ties after an issue concerning staff at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

Epstein died by suicide in August 2019 in his prison cell while awaiting trial.