On Monday, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer announced the issuance of a new subpoena directed at the estate of Jeffrey Epstein. This subpoena seeks access to documents and communications in the estate's possession, custody, or control, specifically in unredacted form. Notably, this includes a copy of the alleged birthday book that was compiled for Epstein's 50th birthday celebration.
Comer stated, "It is our understanding that the Estate of Jeffrey Epstein is in custody and control of documents that may further the Committee's investigation and legislative goals." He emphasized that the estate is prepared to comply with the subpoena and provide these documents, which encompass vital banking and financial records, to the committee. The deadline for delivering these documents is set for September 8, 2025.
The House Oversight Committee is currently reviewing potential mismanagement surrounding the federal government's investigation of both Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. In a related matter, House Democrats have previously requested access to the alleged birthday book, which The Wall Street Journal reported contains a controversial letter from former President Donald Trump. Trump has vehemently denied the existence of this letter and has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal.
ABC News has been unable to confirm the presence of the letter mentioned in the birthday book. In a statement, Dow Jones, the parent company of the Wall Street Journal, expressed full confidence in the integrity of its reporting and affirmed its commitment to vigorously defending against any legal challenges. Meanwhile, Ghislaine Maxwell, a former associate of Epstein, revealed during a recent interview that Epstein had tasked her with gathering contributions for his birthday book, although she could not remember if Trump had participated.
Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 on charges related to sex trafficking, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in facilitating Epstein's exploitation of underage girls. Federal prosecutors allege that she played a crucial role in recruiting, grooming, and abusing girls as young as 14.
The subpoena also includes requests for a range of documents linked to Epstein's financial dealings, including bank accounts, financial transactions, flight logs, and calendars spanning from January 1, 1990, to August 10, 2019. Attorney Brad Edwards, who represents over 200 of Epstein's victims, has previously urged lawmakers to pursue the estate for the birthday book. He stated, "Jeffrey Epstein is dead, so, after making all redactions for victim-identifying information, the estate can easily turn over all the documents requested without objection or delay."
In addition to the subpoena, the House Oversight Committee has announced that Alexander Acosta, the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida and former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, will voluntarily participate in a transcribed interview on September 19, 2025. Acosta previously faced criticism for his handling of Epstein's case, as noted by the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility in a 2020 report.
Chairman Comer also indicated that the committee would accept written declarations from former attorneys general Alberto Gonzales, Eric Holder, and Jeff Sessions, instead of requiring their presence for in-person interviews. These individuals, who were subpoenaed by the committee, intend to formally declare that they possess no relevant information regarding Epstein.
