NEW: WH Brings Out Receipts, Smacks Down New Epstein ‘Birthday Book’ Hoax

A combative White House press office stormed out of the gate Monday afternoon with evidence disavowing a birthday card allegedly presented by President Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein more than two decades ago.

The card was the centerpiece of a bombshell story by the Wall Street Journal in July, alleging that Trump was among a handful of friends to the notorious pedophile who submitted well-wishes in a book celebrating Epstein’s 50th birthday. The bawdy card contained a crude drawing of a naked woman and an imagined dialogue between Trump and Epstein.

Trump has denied the letter, calling it “fake” while suggesting he doesn’t “do drawings” in his letters to others.

A copy of the letter was turned over to the Republican-led U.S. House Oversight Committee on Monday, and almost immediately it was made public on X where observers acutely noted that Trump’s purported signature does not match one is he known for gracing on the covers of bills, letters, and executive orders.

A post by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich states, “Time for @newscorp to open that checkbook, it’s not his signature. DEFAMATION!”

Budowich was referencing Trump’s $10 million suit against News Corp, the owner of the Wall Street Journal, and its founder Rupert Murdoch. Trump launched his suit almost immediately after the Journal’s initial story ran.

The Oversight Committee, led by Chair James Comer (R-KY), in August subpoenaed the Epstein estate for all flight and visitor logs and any documentation related to the now-dead Democratic philanthropist and sexual abuser. Those included “documents and communications in its possession, custody, or control in unredacted form,” including the “birthday book” featured in the Journal’s report.

“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. Further, it is our understanding the Estate is ready and willing to provide these documents to the Committee pursuant to a subpoena,” Comer said in a statement to ABC News on Monday.

Dow Jones, the parent company of the newspaper, stated that its executives maintain “full confidence in the rigor and accuracy” of its reporting and “will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”

Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s mistress who compiled the book, told authorities in August that she could not remember if Trump, then a private citizen, contributed to it. Her answer came during a series of interviews with Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, where she continued to profess her innocence.

Although the documents were released to the committee on Monday, it’s not clear whether all will be made public. Trump and congressional Republicans face demands from their base to release more information about the government’s investigation into Epstein, who killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial.