Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released a copy of a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein that they say shows the signature of President Donald Trump, a note he has denied writing.

The letter, posted on social media Sept. 8, shows Trump's purported message to Epstein inside the outline of a woman's body, with the president's signature mimicking pubic hair.

The letter, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal in July, ends with the message: "A pal is a wonderful thing - Happy Birthday and may every day be another wonderful secret." It was included with other notes written for Epstein in a 2003 book compiled for his 50th birthday.

"We got Trump’s birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein that the President said doesn’t exist," the Oversight Committee Democrats posted on social media Sept. 8. "Trump talks about a 'wonderful secret' the two of them shared. What is he hiding? Release the files!"

The committee subpoenaed the book and other records from the Epstein estate. Democrats released a single page from it - Trump's note. The Republicans have now released the entire book.

Trump called the letter a "FAKE" in an earlier social media post and said the Wall Street Journal story is "false, malicious, and defamatory." The president filed a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, its parent company, owner and two reporters claiming libel and slander and seeking $10 billion in damages.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt maintained in a Sept. 8 social media post that Trump didn't draw the picture or sign it, and said the litigation will continue.

Deputy White House Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich posted on social media Sept. 8 that the Journal's parent company would have to "open that checkbook."

"It’s not his signature. DEFAMATION!" Budowich wrote in the post, which included examples of Trump's signature.

Trump once was a close friend of Epstein, who died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, and his administration has come under intense criticism over its handling of records related to the case.

After members of Trump's orbit stoked concerns about who else might be implicated in Epstein's alleged crimes, the Justice Department attempted to close the book on the speculation with a July 7 memo stating that a "systematic review" of documents "revealed no incriminating 'client list.'" The memo stated that "further disclosure" of records would not "be appropriate or warranted."

That memo sparked outrage, including among Trump's MAGA base.

Trump has lashed out, slamming his own supporters for focusing on Epstein and calling the issue a "hoax." His administration began backpedaling amid the criticism, though, seeking the release of some grand jury records. Lawmakers have sought a fuller disclosure of records.

There has been a renewed, bipartisan push by lawmakers to get more Epstein records following their August recess. The House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena for the Epstein records Aug. 5 and began releasing some of the records Sept. 2.

Epstein victims rallied on Capitol Hill last week to push for the release of more records and spoke to lawmakers on the Oversight Committee. One lawmaker left the meeting in tears.

Ghislaine Maxwell's role in Epstein birthday book

Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epstein's crimes, in a July 24 interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, said she didn’t recall Trump submitting anything for the Epstein birthday book.

Maxwell’s two days of interviews with Blanche, Trump’s former personal defense lawyer, have drawn criticism because the Justice Department has in the past accused Maxwell of perjuring herself to either protect herself or Epstein, her former boyfriend and longtime associate.

Blanche asked Maxwell about media reports of a “birthday book that you assembled for Mr. Epstein” for his 50th birthday in 2003.

She responded that she told Epstein that her mother did one for her father’s 60th birthday and that Epstein loved the idea and asked her to “help coordinate it.”

But when asked by Blanche if Maxwell remembers the names of people who sent letters, Maxwell replied that she did not. “It's been so long, I want to tell you, but I don't remember,” she said.

Maxwell, who has asked the Supreme Court to overturn her conviction, said she didn’t remember anything about a letter from Trump, including when Blanche asked if she recalled seeing “a picture of a naked woman or something like that.”

“I do not,” she replied. “But just – no, I don’t.”

Contributing: Bart Jansen, Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, Joey Garrison

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lewd Jeffrey Epstein letter allegedly signed by Trump goes public

Reporting by Zac Anderson and Josh Meyer, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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