A rare photo released by a US congressional committee has sparked strong reactions in the US, following suspicions that Jeffrey Epstein "sold" a woman to President Donald Trump for $22,500.
The photo is part of the 50th anniversary album of the now-deceased financier, who was convicted of sex trafficking of minors.
The image shows Epstein with Joel Pashcow, an early member of Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, and a woman with an edited face. They hold a "novelty check" signed "DJ Trump." The handwritten caption below the photo reads:
“Jeffrey shows early talent with money + women! Sells to Donald Trump 'fully depreciated' for $22,500. Even though I managed the deal, I didn't get any of the money for the girl!”
The photo was released Monday by the House Oversight Committee as part of a series of documents related to the Epstein files. According to the Wall Street Journal, the woman in question is alleged to have been one of Trump and Epstein's mutual acquaintances during the 1990s.
According to US media, President Trump was contacted by reporters on Tuesday morning and refused to comment on the photo, calling the situation "a dead issue."
A White House spokesman stated that the "check" and signature are not genuine, while the former president called the birthday album an "attempted political smear."
However, the birthday book is suspected to have been compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's close associate sentenced in 2022 to 20 years in prison for sex trafficking.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump vowed to release a “complete list of Epstein’s clients.” But after taking office in January 2025, the Justice Department declared that such a list “does not exist.”
Reactions have been strong from both parties in Congress, with Democrats demanding new investigations and Republicans appearing divided in their positions.
Trump and Epstein had known each other since the 1980s and had a social relationship for decades before falling out in 2004. In press statements, Trump has said their relationship ended after Epstein “stolen employees from the Mar-a-Lago spa.” One of them was Virginia Giuffre, who later accused Epstein of sexual abuse.
In 2023 and 2024, Trump was found civilly liable for sexual abuse of writer E. Jean Carroll, while an appeals court ruled that he could not use presidential immunity to avoid paying $83.3 million in damages to her.
The release of the photo and other documents is expected to prompt new congressional investigations as public pressure for transparency grows. Political analysts in the US say the issue could significantly affect preparations for the 2028 elections and the current president's image on the international stage.
