Las Cruces therapist indicted for alleged Medicaid fraud
NMDOJ said Nancy Marshall is charged with 18 felonies, including one count of fraud, nine counts of Medicaid fraud, six counts of falsification of documents, and two counts of identity theft. If convicted on all counts, Marshall could face over 80 years in prison, NMDOJ added.
'Medical providers should be held accountable not only for their duties to their patients but should also be held to high standards when it comes to accurate and lawful billing,' said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. 'This indictment should be a powerful signal to anyone who thinks they can take advantage of patients and taxpayers: we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.'
NMDOJ said the case was brought to their attention after two key staff members terminated their employment with EAP.
These employees expressed concerns regarding improper practices that they witnessed while employed by Marshall, while also expressing concern for the patients of EAP, NMDOJ said.
The NMDOJ's Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Bureau (MFEAB) conducted an investigation, and 'unveiled a multitude of alleged false Medicaid claims over approximately two and a half years, including allegations that the defendant was billing for services that were never rendered, billing for treatment of children who were actually in school at the time of the alleged service and committing identity theft by utilizing the National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers of other therapists for improper billing.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Newsweek
7 hours ago
- Newsweek
Three Weeks That Shook the Trump Presidency
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. It was Fourth of July weekend, and President Donald Trump was on top of the world. Aides privately described it as the best stretch of his presidency—possibly across both terms. He had notched a run of victories that showcased how rapidly and ruthlessly his administration was reshaping American policy and culture. The Supreme Court delivered a decision limiting nationwide injunctions by federal judges—one that Trump called "a monumental victory," unlocking long-dormant campaign pledges like ending birthright citizenship. At the same time, Congress passed his self-branded "big, beautiful" bill—extending 2017 tax cuts, boosting border security funding and slashing programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Abroad, Trump flexed U.S. military might with a strike in Iran that, at least so far, has been met with limited response. NATO allies agreed to raise defense spending to five percent of GDP. The S&P 500 hit record highs. By July 4, Trump's approval rating had climbed to nearly 50 percent — downright stellar for him, in this era of polarization. Among Republicans, his support held firm above 80 percent. As fireworks lit up the D.C. night sky, Trump had plenty to celebrate. He didn't know that within days, a political firestorm would erupt—and for a change, it would be coming from within his own base. Newsweek Illustration/Canva/Getty A Promise Undone For half a year, Trump had delivered on marquee campaign promises—from sweeping ICE raids to trade pacts to deregulation. But for the conspiracy-minded wing of MAGA—the engine of Trump's digital power—one pledge loomed largest: the release of the so-called Epstein files. In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News the Epstein client list was "sitting on my desk." She then distributed binders marked "The Epstein Files: Phase 1" to conservative influencers at the White House, in a photo op meant to show the administration's commitment to transparency. It appeared explosive revelations were coming. Then, silence. Then, on Monday July 7, with the country awakening from its long weekend-induced slumber, the DOJ quietly released a two-page, unsigned memo claiming no Epstein client list existed, no evidence suggested Epstein was murdered in jail, and no additional files would be released. Eleven hours of prison video accompanied the memo—but the footage contained a one‑minute gap blamed on a "camera reset." The memo was meant to put the ordeal to bed. Instead, it did the opposite. Laura Loomer accused Bondi of orchestrating a cover-up. Alex Jones called the memo "sickening," accusing the administration of "covering up child sex crimes." Tucker Carlson labeled the DOJ findings "an insult to everyone who believed in this movement." Steve Bannon put it bluntly, "How does an anti–deep state administration put out something this whitewashed?" Even Trump himself appeared frustrated over how much oxygen the topic had been sucking up, suggesting that while he and his allies used Epstein to great effect as a wedge issue during the campaign, he is less enamored with spending time on litigating the disgraced financier's past — and their past friendship— now that he's president. "MAGA really wouldn't exist without conspiracy theories," said Eric Alterman, journalism professor at Brooklyn College. "These theories don't require evidence. They're about stories people tell themselves to explain why things feel like they're going wrong in their lives." That expectation of dramatic revelations has become a defining feature of MAGA-era politics. From alleged UFO cover-ups to Epstein's supposed "client list," Trump loyalists, including sometimes Trump himself, have long stoked the belief that sinister truths would soon be exposed — just as soon as their leader was back in power. When the government declared the mystery solved, the base erupted. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Deputy Director Dan Bongino leaves after meeting with Republican lawmakers to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" at the U.S. Capitol on June 25, 2025 in Washington,... The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Deputy Director Dan Bongino leaves after meeting with Republican lawmakers to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" at the U.S. Capitol on June 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. More Getty Images/AFP Trump Begs, MAGA Burns As the month progressed and outrage escalated, Trump loyalists began turning on each other. On July 9, Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino—long a leading promoter of Epstein conspiracies in his former job as media personality—confronted Bondi in a closed-door White House meeting. Furious that the DOJ memo appeared to shut down any further disclosure, Bongino reportedly threatened to resign. "Bongino is out-of-control furious," one senior official told NBC. "This destroyed his credibility. He's threatening to quit and torch Pam unless she's fired." Trump's Truth Social post on July 12, imploring his supporters not to attack Bondi, backfired immediately. "What's going on with my 'boys' and, in some cases, 'gals'?" he asked, apparently referring to the MAGA-aligned podcasters and influencers with whom he was rapidly losing favor. He defended Bondi and downplayed Epstein as "somebody that nobody cares about." It became the first Trump post ever "ratioed" on his own platform. In Congress, Speaker Mike Johnson abruptly canceled House business, sending lawmakers home for summer early rather than face a vote on Epstein documents. When pressed, he called for "full transparency" and urged Bondi to explain the department's decisions. By mid-July, fractures were visible in public opinion polling. Quinnipiac found that 63 percent of voters disapproved of Trump's Epstein response. Even among Republicans, just 40 percent approved. His support among young men—the backbone of his 2024 online comeback—collapsed. A CBS/YouGov poll showed Trump's net approval among voters aged 18 to 29 dropped from 55 percent in February to 28 percent by July, a remarkable 27-point swing in a matter of months. Joe Rogan, Andrew Schulz, and Tim Dillon — three prominent voices from the manosphere — have begun openly criticizing Donald Trump on their respective podcasts, signaling a shift in the online culture that once helped... Joe Rogan, Andrew Schulz, and Tim Dillon — three prominent voices from the manosphere — have begun openly criticizing Donald Trump on their respective podcasts, signaling a shift in the online culture that once helped power his appeal. More YouTube / X "They voted for him because he met them where they were," said Rachel Janfaza, a researcher who studies Gen Z behavior. "But the message has to match the messenger. They're not seeing results—rent is still unaffordable, jobs are scarce, and their degrees feel obsolete the moment they graduate." Thom Hartmann, left-leaning political commentator and host of The Thom Hartmann Program, said the emotional toll of disappointment was starting to show. "Many Trump supporters have spent years emotionally and socially invested in his mythos... Admitting betrayal or deception requires admitting they were wrong, which comes with deep psychological costs. This accounts for the anguish and conflict we're seeing among the Trump base." On social media, longtime loyalists posted videos of themselves burning red MAGA hats. Others shared screenshots of Epstein files stamped "PHASE 1" and captioned them "where's phase 2?" Why was that stupid binder referred to as 'Phase 1' of Epstein document releases if DOJ believed there to be no client list and no additional information about Epstein's activities? Where is Phase 2? The whole thing is so stupid and ham-fisted. Tell us which intel agencies he… — Sean Davis (@seanmdav) July 8, 2025 Hartmann said the outcome depends on whether more revelations surface: "Original videotapes or photos that are clearly not doctored, first-person testimony by Ghislaine Maxwell, or more former teenage victims going on the record could spell doom for his relationship with his base." But so far, no second wave of documents has arrived. And the blowback continues to metastasize. A clearly rattled White House communications office even issued an on-the-record response to a "South Park" episode skewering the president, keeping it in the news. Anything, it seemed, to take the focus off Epstein. As Trump scrambled to shift the spotlight elsewhere—accusing former President Barack Obama of a capital crime, releasing files on unrelated, long-ago assassinations, demanding the Washington Commanders go back to their old name, and even sending Cabinet officials to kick the tires on Alcatraz's ability to house criminals again—he found that none of the tactics that once insulated him from political fallout could contain the fury this time.


Politico
a day ago
- Politico
Dems ready more Epstein attacks
IN TODAY'S EDITION:— How Epstein could permeate recess town halls — Senate negotiates next week's spending bills — Senate Republicans call for probe into Obama The Jeffrey Epstein controversy could be hitting town halls across the country as House lawmakers head home over August recess. Democratic leaders have brushed aside misgivings about dabbling in conspiracy theories to broadly paint the GOP as a party intent on protecting the powerful rather than standing up for the vulnerable. 'It's all connected,' House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters this week. 'This administration refuses to share the truth and be transparent ... while they are simultaneously working to shut down hospitals and urgent cares and Planned Parenthoods,' said Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, previewing how Democrats would combine Epstein talking points and economic messaging in the coming weeks. Some Democrats plan to leave Epstein to the wayside during recess, with especially those in purple districts more interested in using their town halls and other events to hammer Republicans over President Donald Trump's tariff and trade agenda, as well as the Medicaid cuts and other provisions in the GOP domestic policy package. 'I don't plan to bring [Epstein] up,' said swing district-Rep. Dave Min. 'It's not something that is top of mind.' This could be welcome news for Speaker Mike Johnson and House GOP leaders, who took pains to avoid Epstein-related votes in the House this week in an effort to give the administration time over August recess to release any new information on the convicted sex offender. GOP leaders are also telling rank and file members to use their recess time at home to promote the megabill, hoping their sales pitch for it will counteract the Democratic narrative against it: 'I'm encouraging our people to just talk about it,' NRCC chair Richard Hudson told reporters. Still, Democrats are making clear the Epstein issue isn't going away, especially after Democrats succeeded in getting enough Republicans to join them in a vote to subpoena the DOJ's entire Epstein file during an Oversight subcommittee markup Thursday. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise in an interview this week said that Republicans are trying to 'expedite' the process of releasing information on Epstein, but acknowledged it depends how quickly the courts respond to Trump administration efforts to unseal grand jury information. 'I don't think anybody can predict what the court's going to do, but we hope that they move quickly,' Scalise said. Expect House lawmakers to return in September to confront GOP Rep. Thomas Massie's continued push to force a vote on his bipartisan bill to make Epstein materials public. Lawmakers involved also tell Meredith that Rules Committee Republicans are dead set against helping Johnson kill off Massie's bill — for now. Another post-recess headache that could hit Johnson? Any Rules member will be able to call up a vote on the House floor on a separate, non-binding resolution expressing support for releasing the Epstein files, which the GOP-led panel briefly considered advancing last week. If this happens, it will require Republicans to move to table, or kill, the resolution in the Rules Committee or on the House floor. TGIF. Email us at nwu@ meredithlee@ crazor@ mmccarthy@ and bguggenheim@ Follow our live coverage at MORNING MONEY: CAPITAL RISK — POLITICO's flagship financial newsletter has a new Friday edition built for the economic era we're living in: one shaped by political volatility, disruption and a wave of policy decisions with sector-wide consequences. Each week, Morning Money: Capital Risk brings sharp reporting and analysis on how political risk is moving markets and how investors are adapting. Want to know how health care regulation, tariffs, or court rulings could ripple through the economy? Start here. WHAT WE'RE WATCHINGWith help from Jordan Williams The House is out for August recess. The Senate is out and will return Monday. — House Ways and Means will hold field hearings today and Saturday in Las Vegas and Simi Valley, Calif. to sell the GOP's recently-passed 'big, beautiful bill.' Next week: The Senate will continue to work through appropriations bills and Trump's nominees. Pro subscribers receive this newsletter with a full congressional schedule and can browse our comprehensive calendar of markups, hearings and other notable events around Washington. Sign up for a demo. THE LEADERSHIP SUITE GOP leaders await Bondi's move on Epstein Johnson, in a CBS interview aired Thursday, claimed House Republicans are united in wanting maximum disclosure on the Epstein files and said there are 'good questions' about how Pam Bondi's Justice Department has handled the matter. The ongoing saga — now in its third week — is mounting pressure on Trump and his attorney general to produce the Epstein evidence that Bondi said the DOJ had in February. And the president's allies are increasingly voicing concerns that Bondi, who has not yet addressed the controversy in a public setting, has a blind spot for the damage she has caused, Kyle Cheney, Meredith and Erica Orden report. House GOP leaders have an understanding with the White House that lawmakers will refrain from taking floor action on the matter as the administration works to unseal more documents related to the case — though many rank-and-file Republicans are skeptical. '[Bondi] has very little time to turn this around,' said one House Republican, granted anonymity to describe the view inside the conference. Across the Capitol, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling on the administration to provide a 'closed-door briefing to all senators' about 'Trump's name appearing in these files and the complete lack of transparency shown to date.' It's the latest in a string of efforts by Democrats to force some action by the administration as the Epstein issue continues to be a thorn in Trump's side. Senate negotiates appropriations package Senate GOP leaders are considering grouping three spending bills into a single package before leaving for August recess, Jordain Carney, Katherine Tully-McManus and Jennifer Scholtes report. Those bills would fund the VA and military construction projects; the Department of Agriculture and the FDA; and the Departments of Commerce and Justice. The package, filed Thursday afternoon by Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, would postpone consideration of the bill to fund congressional operations until some later date. That's a shift from the previous plan, but it became a necessity to switch gears after Sen. John Kennedy said he was opposed to the legislative branch funding measure. Senate Appropriations also on Thursday approved bills to fund the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, and the Interior Department and EPA. But Senate Majority Leader John Thune is expected to wait to take these up until the fall, already having his hands full with the funding measures that had previously been under consideration for inclusion in the so-called minibus. 'It's a question of, right now can, we get any of these bills into the package,' Thune told Jordain on Thursday. POLICY RUNDOWN BOOZMAN CRITICIZES USDA REORG ROLLOUT — Senate Agriculture Chair John Boozman said Thursday that he was 'disappointed' USDA officials didn't consult Congress on a new sweeping reorganization plan, Marcia Brown reports. Boozman's comments come as Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Thursday that her agency will move most Washington-area staff to Salt Lake City; Fort Collins, Colo.; Indianapolis; Kansas City, Mo.; and Raleigh, N.C. Boozman told Marcia that he wants to hold a hearing soon to understand USDA leadership's rationale for the move, adding that he has questions about what the relocations would mean for the department's efficiency. USDA employees, granted anonymity to speak freely for fear of reprisals, said in interviews they thought the move would allow USDA leadership to concentrate power in Washington and move potentially dissident voices out to the 'hubs.' REPUBLICANS CALL FOR SPECIAL COUNSEL PROBE OF OBAMA — Senate Judiciary Republicans John Cornyn and Lindsey Graham are calling for Bondi to appoint a special counsel to investigate former President Barack Obama, his staff and members of his administration. The move comes after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard presented newly declassified intelligence at the White House Wednesday, which she alleged showed that the Obama administration 'knowingly lied' about Russian efforts to sway the 2016 election. Gabbard's presentation sparked outrage within the Congressional Black Caucus, with CBC Whip Kamlager-Dove leading a letter to Gabbard decrying the director's 'egregious' presentation. The 22 Democratic signers called on Gabbard to resign. 'As Director of National Intelligence, your job is to safeguard truth, not spread propaganda,' the lawmakers wrote. 'Instead, you have abused your position to promote a partisan narrative rooted in conspiracy and discredited claims.' SENATE TAX WRITERS TALK SECOND RECONCILIATION BILL — Senate Finance member Steve Daines told Benjamin Thursday that he's actively discussing a potential second party-line reconciliation bill with other members of the tax writing committee. Daines said Trump's idea to eliminate capital gains taxes on the sale of primary residences is 'a good idea' and that it should be combined with 'additional tax reform.' Daines' comments come as Finance Chair Mike Crapo indicated this week that he'd like to look at opportunities across health and tax jurisdictions for year-end legislation, though the Idaho Republican told Benjamin earlier this week he isn't sure yet about Trump's new tax proposal to rid capital gains taxes on houses. 'I gotta think about it,' Crapo said. Best of POLITICO Pro and E&E: THE BEST OF THE REST Sen. Angus King Admits His Vote For Anti-Abortion Judge Was 'A Mistake,' from Jennifer Bendery and Igor Bobic at HuffPost Republicans plan to use the threat of impeachment as a key midterm issue, from Peter Nicholas, Olympia Sonnier and Julie Tsirkin at NBC CAMPAIGN STOP TRUMP ENDORSES WHATLEY — Trump officially endorsed RNC chair Michael Whatley to run for Senate in North Carolina on Thursday night, which Dasha Burns scooped that morning. Whatley will enter the race to replace Sen. Thom Tillis, who announced his retirement last month. HOCHUL OPEN TO NY REDISTRICTING — Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul is not ruling out a mid-decade redrawing of New York's House lines to benefit her party, as deep red Texas and Ohio move to reshape their maps through redistricting, Nick Reisman reports. Hochul's office and Jeffries have been in close touch about this possibility since Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced a special legislative session to reshape Texas districts, which would benefit Republicans. The move in New York would almost certainly be hit with legal challenges since state law stipulates redistricting may only be done once a decade, but Hochul is unconcerned. 'All's fair in love and war. We're following the rules. We do redistricting every 10 years,' Hochul said during an event Thursday in Buffalo. 'But if there's other states violating the rules and are trying to give themselves an advantage, all I'll say is, I'm going to look at it closely with Hakeem Jeffries.' CAUCUS MOVES — House Democrats' Lowering Costs Caucus is rolling out a new framework and planning document to help the party talk about inflation during the August recess. Members of the new coalition are urging Democrats to hold events to blame Republicans for spiking the cost of goods, from coffee to groceries. JOB BOARD Misha S. Linnehan is now press secretary for Democratic staff of the Joint Economic Committee. She was most recently deputy press secretary for former Sen. Bob Casey and previously worked for Maine Gov. Janet Mills and the Maine Democratic Party. Cameron Anders Clark has been promoted to director of operations for Rep. Adam Smith. Juliette Chandler is now deputy comms director for Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi's Senate campaign. She most recently was digital director and press secretary for Rep. Lori Trahan. Gigi Powers has been promoted to operations director for the Senate HELP Committee. She most recently was a health research assistant for the committee. TUNNEL TALK HOUSEKEEPING UPDATE — A new closed captioning service funded by the Modernization Initiatives Account is now available to every House committee. Reps. Stephanie Bice and Norma Torres — the chair and ranking member of the subcommittee on Modernization and Innovation, respectively — announced the new service Thursday as part of the panel's effort to make the House more 'accessible to all.' The captioning service, which has a 98% accuracy rate, allows for real-time captioning on committee room screens during hearings. A committee-specific QR code will allow attendees to access real-time captions on their phones or tablets. HILL PROGRESSIVES JOIN HOUSE FOOD BOYCOTT — The Congressional Progressive Staff Association is standing in solidarity with the House food workers boycotting the chamber's new food vendors. Only two of the House's seven new subcontractors have agreed to rehire the existing workforce and acknowledge their union-negotiated base pay and benefits. The boycott includes Starbucks, Pakistani food restaurant CHA Street Food, Jimmy John's, Common Grounds, Java House and PX Tacos. 'We urge staff and allies to consider joining Unite Here's boycott until they commit to rehiring the current unionized workforce,' CPSA posted on X. 'These workers deserve respect, not replacement.' HAPPY BIRTHDAY Rep. Jared Golden … Brad Karp … Alex Nguyen of Schumer's office … Andrew Feldman of Feldman Strategies … Kirsten Sutton … Sarah Benzing … Fox News' Katy Ricalde … Daily Mail's Kelly Laco … Ella Gunn … Liz Brown of the Children's Hospital Association … Ducks Unlimited's Parker Williams … Rebecca Gale … Annie Lentz of Rep. Maggie Goodlander's office … Consumer Bankers Association's Billy Rielly … USDA's Jennifer Tiller … CNBC's Karen James Sloan TRIVIA THURSDAY'S ANSWER: Jim Weinstein correctly answered that Bud Shuster and his son Bill Shuster held the same House seat (PA-09) and chaired the same committee (Transportation and Infrastructure). TODAY'S QUESTION, from Jim: When George Washington traveled from New York during a congressional recess in 1789, he started a tradition by visiting the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. (Vermont and Maine were not yet states.) Why did he skip Rhode Island? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Inside Congress. Send your answers to insidecongress@ CORRECTION: Yesterday's trivia had an error; President Truman's daughter was named Margaret. Our apologies.


Axios
2 days ago
- Axios
"Such bulls**t": Not every Democrat wants to talk about Epstein
House Democrats are at odds over whether to use Republicans' blowup over the Jeffrey Epstein files as a talking point while they are in their districts for the five-week summer recess. Why it matters: Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries ' (D-N.Y.) leadership team has encouraged caucus members to maintain the drumbeat on Epstein, but some Democrats say they are sick of talking about it. House Democrats' messaging arm sent members an alert Wednesday urging them to "amplify" a Wall Street Journal report that President Trump is in the Epstein files and demand that "House Republicans stop covering up for Trump." Several House Democrats said they would rather spend August discussing more substantive policy matters; however, with one who spoke on condition of anonymity telling Axios: "Candidly, this whole thing is just such bulls**t." Driving the news: Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), the co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, told Axios he is "not really focused" on Epstein. "I think the big focus is going to be on health care, because that's what people care about, and I don't think this issue is big outside the Beltway," he said. Similarly, Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) told Axios in a text message: "We will focus on [the 'big, beautiful bill'], Medicaid, and tariffs raising costs." The other side: Other Democrats argued that going after Republicans on policy and slamming them on Epstein aren't mutually exclusive. "I think all these issues are linked together," Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) told Axios. "Trump is willing to lie and betray his own people, and he's willing to take away your health care to give it to his rich friends. ... I think it's all part of one story," said Casar, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), a former CPC chair, said similarly: "I'm talking about Medicaid, I'm talking about tax breaks to billionaires — and I'm talking about Epstein, because he fits right in there." State of play: Jeffries has surprised some of his members by bear-hugging rank-and-file efforts to force the release of the Epstein files despite his usual reluctance to engage on salacious issues. His messaging arm, the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, sent out several emails to members' offices last week on how to message on Epstein, as Politico first reported. "We've encouraged members to lean into this, to talk to their constituents about it," said Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), a DPCC co-chair. "It's an opportunity to speak with people who might usually disagree with you." The DPCC is set to meet early next week to discuss messaging for the August recess, according to a senior House Democrat who spoke on the condition of anonymity. What he's saying: Asked at a Wednesday press conference if he is concerned the Epstein issue would overshadow Democrats' attacks on Trump's "big, beautiful bill," Jeffries said, "The reality is that it's all connected." "Donald Trump, his administration and House Republicans have delivered nothing more than a government of the billionaires, by the billionaires and for the billionaires," he said. The senior House Democrat said the issue has been a boon for Jeffries' leadership: "He knows how he wants to unite us. He's very deeply engaged. ... He's got his vision." Between the lines: "Do I think this is going to win us the election? No. But ... this is a great opportunity for [Republicans] to kill each other," a third House Democrat who spoke on the condition of anonymity told Axios. The lawmaker called the Epstein issue "great, tawdry soap opera s**t," and said that "MAGA attacking MAGA equals a win for us. So the more that happens, the more we can foment that, the better." The lawmaker said the issue is also an "opportunity to throw some red meat" to the "insatiable" grassroots base, but added: "We have to be careful not to get led around by the nose by feeding the beast every hour. At the end of the day, we have to be for something." The bottom line: "Everybody's got to do what they're comfortable with," the senior House Democrat told Axios.