Former U.S. President Bill Clinton reportedly sent a handwritten message congratulating billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who committed suicide after sexually exploiting minors, on his birthday, stirring controversy.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 24th (local time) that Clinton's words were included in an album created by Epstein to celebrate his 50th birthday in 2003. Clinton noted at the time, "I am truly grateful for the long time we had to learn and have adventures together," and added, "Your childlike curiosity is really special and brings comfort to friends." The WSJ confirmed a short handwritten message of about a paragraph, but Clinton's Spokesperson declined to comment on it.
Clinton's friendship with Epstein has been controversial in the past. Clinton, who left office in 2001, reportedly flew on Epstein's private plane four times and visited his Manhattan mansion. A photo was released showing one of Epstein's sexual exploitation victims giving Clinton a massage in 2002. At the time, Clinton claimed he had not engaged in any illegal activities.
This birthday congratulatory album is the same one mentioned in a WSJ report that earlier discovered a letter depicting nude women in an obscene manner, sent by President Donald Trump. Trump called the WSJ report 'fake news' and filed a $10 billion (about 14 trillion won) defamation lawsuit against not only the reporters but also News Corp, the parent company of the WSJ, and its founder Rupert Murdoch, in protest.
The publisher of the WSJ, Dow Jones, stated through a Spokesperson regarding Trump's lawsuit, "We are fully confident in the facts and accuracy of our article. We will vigorously contest all lawsuits."
WSJ also reported that the leather-bound birthday congratulatory album included the names of about 60 individuals from various fields, in addition to former President Clinton and President Trump. The album featured letters from Leon Black, co-founder of the global asset management firm Apollo Global Management, as well as fashion designer Vera Wang and media mogul Mort Zuckerman. Some letters contained mundane birthday wishes, while others featured blatant jokes and sexual expressions.
Nathan Myhrvold, a billionaire and former Microsoft (MS) executive, sent a message saying, "I think photos are more appropriate than words," along with images of lions mating and zebras showing their genitals.
Leon Black, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, sent a poem stating, "Blondes, redheads, and brunettes are spread throughout the world, and Epstein, with his net full of fish, is now the old man and the sea." Previously, Black resigned from his position as CEO of Apollo Global Management in 2021 after revelations of unusual financial dealings with Epstein.
The late billionaire Epstein was known to have built extensive relationships with influential figures in politics and business around the world. Epstein, a former hedge fund manager, reportedly committed suicide in a New York prison shortly after being arrested on charges of abusing dozens of minors.