The White House insists Trump did not sign the documents in question, while Democrats are balking at the defense now that the image of the letter has been made public. Trump himself has waved away the question, calling it a "dead issue" and a "Democrat hoax."
Massie has strongly pushed back on the "hoax" claim, even bringing Epstein victims to Washington to speak about their experiences. But when it comes to Trump's ties to Epstein, Massie has been less forceful — suggesting there may be files that are embarrassing to people in the president's orbit, but nothing directly implicating the president in crimes.
Massie was asked by reporters about the letter this week.
"I think it's a distraction," the Republican said. "It doesn't prove anything, having a birthday card from Trump doesn't help the survivors and the victims. It doesn't name an additional new person who could be indicted."
The Epstein "birthday book" the House Oversight Committee received matches the description of earlier reports by the Wall Street Journal in mid-July. The Journal is standing by its reporting despite being targeted by a Trump lawsuit over the story.