Donald Trump has called the Jeffrey Epstein story a dead issue. But in a week of blockbuster new revelations, Epstein's criminality - and its consequences - continue to haunt many of his former associates.
The so-called birthday book of wishes given to Epstein in 2003, that was publicly released on Monday, has given new ammunition to Trump's critics, and it will also keep his base and the wider public clamouring for more details.
It may not be a proverbial smoking gun – an undeniable link to wrongdoing that destroys careers or supercharges criminal investigations. But it is concrete, troubling evidence of the close relationship the late financier and convicted sex offender had with the rich and powerful.
That alone makes it an explosive and compelling story – one that is capturing the public's attention in ways a typical political story does not.
Make no mistake, while there is no suggestion of criminal wrongdoing by Trump, the political consequences of the Epstein saga on the president are very real. He is vulnerable on this issue. His attempts to deflect or dismiss it have failed.
While the 2003 book, compiled by Epstein's then-girlfriend and co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, is full of dozens of personal notes, it is the one purportedly from Trump that has turned this from a tragic story of sex trafficking and exploitation into one of national partisan intrigue.
Details from the note – an imagined dialogue between Trump and Epstein full of innuendo and double-entendres – have sparked additional scrutiny. Trump's defenders have contested its authenticity, yet he has been increasingly isolated in his denial.
The note, in addition to various other messages and private jokes featured within the birthday book, will likely fuel renewed interest in Epstein's expansive network and power dynamics.
This ongoing drama seems poised to overshadow Trump's current narrative, illustrating the way past associations can resurface with devastating implications for political reputations.
