Under-16 social media ban proposed in New Zealand
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Sky News AU
Firebrand politician Bob Katter reignites his war of words with Terri Irwin over his 'lazy' crocodile hunting push
Firebrand politician Bob Katter has reignited his war of words with Terri Irwin, the widowed wife of beloved Australian conservationist Steve Irwin, after she labelled his bid to legalise crocodile hunting 'lazy' and 'sloppy'. Dr Irwin, director of Australia Zoo, was among nearly 200 stakeholders who made submissions to the committee overseeing a controversial bill introduced by Katter's Australian Party to allow croc culling and egg harvesting to keep populations in check and make recreational waterways safer. 'The Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025 will increase the probability of crocodile attacks on people and impact the overall health of Queensland waterways,' Dr Irwin said in her submission. 'More than sixty percent of the clauses in this Bill are exactly the same as previous versions. In fact, it is such a lazy and sloppy attempt to recycle old draft legislation that the Explanatory Notes refers to the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection – the department has not been called that since 2017.' Speaking to Sky News, Bob Katter vehemently defended criticisms from Dr Irwin and Australia Zoo. 'What the hell would they know about it? They live in Brisbane. All they know about is crocodiles in cages. They've never lived where the crocodiles are,' Mr Katter said. 'Even I don't want crocodiles in cages.' Sky News requested an interview with Dr Irwin but a reply has not been received. Mr Katter's Australian Party's bill, which proposes the establishment of a Cairns-based Queensland Crocodile Authority to oversee a permanent crocodile culling program, has been rejected by a parliamentary committee. The bill seeks to legislate licencing for crocodile farms and sanctuaries, safari-style hunting and egg harvesting as a means of controlling the reptiles' growing populations and making recreational waterways safer. But the Health, Environment and Innovation Committee overseeing the bill has recommended it not be passed. "The committee agrees that public safety should always be a paramount consideration but ultimately concluded that no amount of culling or management will ever fully erase the danger posed by crocodiles," the committee's report said. Mr Katter said growing crocodile populations and a geographical expansion of their habitat was the result of an 'imbalance' in Queensland waterways caused by a 1970s ban of crocodile culling and egg harvesting. Reintroducing the controversial practice would keep the populations in check and reduce the risks of attacks on humans, he said. 'Human beings took the eggs for 40,000 years. You've stopped the human being from taking the eggs,' he said. 'Not one single one of the 300,000 crocodiles in North Queensland has ever got shot. If I've got a crocodile on my cattle station, I'm not even allowed to remove them. 'They're territorial. The mother has 60 little crocodiles. Well, they got to find a home and all North Queensland is territorialised now, so all they can do is move south.' A suspected crocodile sighting in the Noosa River on the Sunshine Coast in July has reignited debate about crocodile management in Queensland. Images captured by local fisherman James Graham through a sonar fish-finder of a crocodile-like figure on the riverbed have gone viral and made national news headlines. 'If I was in my normal fishing spots, a couple of hundred meters north, that's what a croc looks like,' he said. 'The thought (of a crocodile in the Noosa River) is truly absurd.' Dr Ross Dwyer, crocodile expert with the University of the Sunshine Coast, said it would be possible for a crocodile to inhabit the Noosa River, but 'highly unlikely'. 'This would be the furthest south a crocodile has been spotted down here in over 100 years,' he said. 'During the 20th century, crocodiles were hunted so extensively they were pushed back in their range in Queensland, and what we're seeing is the crocodiles starting to expand back into that natural habitat again. 'The Noosa River could be good habitat if there wasn't all that built up area and the water was warmer. 'The crocodile population is expanding. The water is warming up and we are going to see more of them in these southern parts of the range. 'They do have an important role in these waterways and it's something that we need to be proud of in Australia.' Queensland Parks and Wildlife rangers shot a crocodile found in the Mary River near Maryborough in February. "(Shooting) is certainly one of the tools in the toolbox and we do employ it in situations where public safety (is affected by) the risk of the crocodile persisting in the area," a spokesman told the ABC.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
'These are distressing times': call for faster mining approvals following Dartbrook job cuts
New England MP Barnaby Joyce has called for the accelerated approval of Upper Hunter mining projects in order to offset the job losses at Dartbrook coal mine. Dartbrook, an underground thermal coal joint-venture by Australian Pacific Coal and Tetra Resources, went into external administration and receivership earlier this month after failing to meet its obligations for a $174 million loan to Singaporean commodities giant Vitol. The mine's receivers, FTI Consulting, terminated 104 miners or more than two-thirds of the workforce, earlier this week. It said in a statement making the mass terminations "wasn't an easy decision" but it was "necessary for Dartbrook's long-term future". Mr Joyce, whose New England electorate now incorporates Muswellbrook, said the job losses were not the result of a downturn in the coal industry. "Structurally, there's nothing wrong with it (Dartbrook), it's just carrying too much debt," Mr Joyce said. "People should not read the issues of Dartbrook as issues with the coal industry; the issues are with its internal financial management." "The guys who have lost their jobs shouldn't have lost their jobs because there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the market that they're in." He called on the state government to fast-track approvals for other mining projects in the region. "We have to make sure that the other mines in the area get their approvals," Mr Joyce said. "That's how we are going to absorb these jobs. There is absolute capacity in other precincts to absorb these jobs overnight. But if you are being forced to wait seven or eight years for approval, then unemployment is going to rise as people wait. "The Hunter Valley is the money bag for NSW, but if we take too long to open zippers, you are not going to have any money." In a statement, Muswellbrook Council said it was deeply concerned about how the job losses at Dartbrook Mine would affect workers, their families and the community. "Our thoughts are with those impacted, including local businesses owed significant amounts that compromise people's livelihoods. These are distressing times. The effects are felt by our whole community," the statement said. "Muswellbrook Shire Council's role is defined: to advocate for residents and workers in our Shire and ensure that decisions are transparent, accountable and prioritise our community. Council is pursuing every avenue to help those affected, directly and indirectly." The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) said it would fight for workers in the Fair Work Commission. Minutes from a creditors' meeting held earlier this month showed that at least 51 companies claimed they were owed money. The total debts exceed $202 million. The largest creditor was UK-based non-bank loan agency, Global Loan Agency Services (GLAS), which claimed it was owed more than $800 million. The mine restarted last year after being in care and maintenance for 17 years. The Independent Planning Commission approved an amended application to reopen the mine in 2019, despite community opposition. The conditions stipulated that the mine would have to use the Hunter Tunnel rather than transport coal by truck. It must also use existing processing infrastructure and cannot mine the Piercefield Seam to reduce groundwater impact. New England MP Barnaby Joyce has called for the accelerated approval of Upper Hunter mining projects in order to offset the job losses at Dartbrook coal mine. Dartbrook, an underground thermal coal joint-venture by Australian Pacific Coal and Tetra Resources, went into external administration and receivership earlier this month after failing to meet its obligations for a $174 million loan to Singaporean commodities giant Vitol. The mine's receivers, FTI Consulting, terminated 104 miners or more than two-thirds of the workforce, earlier this week. It said in a statement making the mass terminations "wasn't an easy decision" but it was "necessary for Dartbrook's long-term future". Mr Joyce, whose New England electorate now incorporates Muswellbrook, said the job losses were not the result of a downturn in the coal industry. "Structurally, there's nothing wrong with it (Dartbrook), it's just carrying too much debt," Mr Joyce said. "People should not read the issues of Dartbrook as issues with the coal industry; the issues are with its internal financial management." "The guys who have lost their jobs shouldn't have lost their jobs because there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the market that they're in." He called on the state government to fast-track approvals for other mining projects in the region. "We have to make sure that the other mines in the area get their approvals," Mr Joyce said. "That's how we are going to absorb these jobs. There is absolute capacity in other precincts to absorb these jobs overnight. But if you are being forced to wait seven or eight years for approval, then unemployment is going to rise as people wait. "The Hunter Valley is the money bag for NSW, but if we take too long to open zippers, you are not going to have any money." In a statement, Muswellbrook Council said it was deeply concerned about how the job losses at Dartbrook Mine would affect workers, their families and the community. "Our thoughts are with those impacted, including local businesses owed significant amounts that compromise people's livelihoods. These are distressing times. The effects are felt by our whole community," the statement said. "Muswellbrook Shire Council's role is defined: to advocate for residents and workers in our Shire and ensure that decisions are transparent, accountable and prioritise our community. Council is pursuing every avenue to help those affected, directly and indirectly." The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) said it would fight for workers in the Fair Work Commission. Minutes from a creditors' meeting held earlier this month showed that at least 51 companies claimed they were owed money. The total debts exceed $202 million. The largest creditor was UK-based non-bank loan agency, Global Loan Agency Services (GLAS), which claimed it was owed more than $800 million. The mine restarted last year after being in care and maintenance for 17 years. The Independent Planning Commission approved an amended application to reopen the mine in 2019, despite community opposition. The conditions stipulated that the mine would have to use the Hunter Tunnel rather than transport coal by truck. It must also use existing processing infrastructure and cannot mine the Piercefield Seam to reduce groundwater impact. New England MP Barnaby Joyce has called for the accelerated approval of Upper Hunter mining projects in order to offset the job losses at Dartbrook coal mine. Dartbrook, an underground thermal coal joint-venture by Australian Pacific Coal and Tetra Resources, went into external administration and receivership earlier this month after failing to meet its obligations for a $174 million loan to Singaporean commodities giant Vitol. The mine's receivers, FTI Consulting, terminated 104 miners or more than two-thirds of the workforce, earlier this week. It said in a statement making the mass terminations "wasn't an easy decision" but it was "necessary for Dartbrook's long-term future". Mr Joyce, whose New England electorate now incorporates Muswellbrook, said the job losses were not the result of a downturn in the coal industry. "Structurally, there's nothing wrong with it (Dartbrook), it's just carrying too much debt," Mr Joyce said. "People should not read the issues of Dartbrook as issues with the coal industry; the issues are with its internal financial management." "The guys who have lost their jobs shouldn't have lost their jobs because there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the market that they're in." He called on the state government to fast-track approvals for other mining projects in the region. "We have to make sure that the other mines in the area get their approvals," Mr Joyce said. "That's how we are going to absorb these jobs. There is absolute capacity in other precincts to absorb these jobs overnight. But if you are being forced to wait seven or eight years for approval, then unemployment is going to rise as people wait. "The Hunter Valley is the money bag for NSW, but if we take too long to open zippers, you are not going to have any money." In a statement, Muswellbrook Council said it was deeply concerned about how the job losses at Dartbrook Mine would affect workers, their families and the community. "Our thoughts are with those impacted, including local businesses owed significant amounts that compromise people's livelihoods. These are distressing times. The effects are felt by our whole community," the statement said. "Muswellbrook Shire Council's role is defined: to advocate for residents and workers in our Shire and ensure that decisions are transparent, accountable and prioritise our community. Council is pursuing every avenue to help those affected, directly and indirectly." The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) said it would fight for workers in the Fair Work Commission. Minutes from a creditors' meeting held earlier this month showed that at least 51 companies claimed they were owed money. The total debts exceed $202 million. The largest creditor was UK-based non-bank loan agency, Global Loan Agency Services (GLAS), which claimed it was owed more than $800 million. The mine restarted last year after being in care and maintenance for 17 years. The Independent Planning Commission approved an amended application to reopen the mine in 2019, despite community opposition. The conditions stipulated that the mine would have to use the Hunter Tunnel rather than transport coal by truck. It must also use existing processing infrastructure and cannot mine the Piercefield Seam to reduce groundwater impact. New England MP Barnaby Joyce has called for the accelerated approval of Upper Hunter mining projects in order to offset the job losses at Dartbrook coal mine. Dartbrook, an underground thermal coal joint-venture by Australian Pacific Coal and Tetra Resources, went into external administration and receivership earlier this month after failing to meet its obligations for a $174 million loan to Singaporean commodities giant Vitol. The mine's receivers, FTI Consulting, terminated 104 miners or more than two-thirds of the workforce, earlier this week. It said in a statement making the mass terminations "wasn't an easy decision" but it was "necessary for Dartbrook's long-term future". Mr Joyce, whose New England electorate now incorporates Muswellbrook, said the job losses were not the result of a downturn in the coal industry. "Structurally, there's nothing wrong with it (Dartbrook), it's just carrying too much debt," Mr Joyce said. "People should not read the issues of Dartbrook as issues with the coal industry; the issues are with its internal financial management." "The guys who have lost their jobs shouldn't have lost their jobs because there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the market that they're in." He called on the state government to fast-track approvals for other mining projects in the region. "We have to make sure that the other mines in the area get their approvals," Mr Joyce said. "That's how we are going to absorb these jobs. There is absolute capacity in other precincts to absorb these jobs overnight. But if you are being forced to wait seven or eight years for approval, then unemployment is going to rise as people wait. "The Hunter Valley is the money bag for NSW, but if we take too long to open zippers, you are not going to have any money." In a statement, Muswellbrook Council said it was deeply concerned about how the job losses at Dartbrook Mine would affect workers, their families and the community. "Our thoughts are with those impacted, including local businesses owed significant amounts that compromise people's livelihoods. These are distressing times. The effects are felt by our whole community," the statement said. "Muswellbrook Shire Council's role is defined: to advocate for residents and workers in our Shire and ensure that decisions are transparent, accountable and prioritise our community. Council is pursuing every avenue to help those affected, directly and indirectly." The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) said it would fight for workers in the Fair Work Commission. Minutes from a creditors' meeting held earlier this month showed that at least 51 companies claimed they were owed money. The total debts exceed $202 million. The largest creditor was UK-based non-bank loan agency, Global Loan Agency Services (GLAS), which claimed it was owed more than $800 million. The mine restarted last year after being in care and maintenance for 17 years. The Independent Planning Commission approved an amended application to reopen the mine in 2019, despite community opposition. The conditions stipulated that the mine would have to use the Hunter Tunnel rather than transport coal by truck. It must also use existing processing infrastructure and cannot mine the Piercefield Seam to reduce groundwater impact.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Trump pushes for release of Epstein, Maxwell testimony
US President Donald Trump's administration, seeking to ease an uproar plaguing his presidency, has urged two judges to release testimony to a grand jury that indicted Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell on sex trafficking charges. In late-night court filings on Tuesday, US federal prosecutors said unsealing the materials would be appropriate given the "abundant public interest" in the case of Epstein, the late financier, and Maxwell, an imprisoned British socialite. The Republican Trump had promised to make public Epstein-related files if re-elected and accused Democrats of covering up the truth. But earlier in July, the Department of Justice said a previously touted Epstein client list did not exist, angering Trump's supporters. Democrats are also pushing for the release of Epstein files, saying Trump should be held accountable for breaking his promise to release them. US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and a group of his fellow Democrats said they have invoked a century-old law to compel the Justice Department to release a broad range of Epstein documents while protecting the privacy of victims. Asked whether Tuesday's letter to Attorney-General Pam Bondi included the release of grand jury transcripts, Schumer told reporters, "Well, that will have to be litigated." It was unclear whether the Justice Department would aim to respond by the August 15 deadline that the Democrats set. The DOJ first sought court permission on July 18 to make public transcripts of the confidential testimony given by witnesses years ago in the two cases, but Manhattan-based US District Judges Richard Berman and Paul Engelmayer asked the government to flesh out the legal bases for the requests. Trump has faced pressure to make public documents from the federal investigations into Epstein, who took his own life in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, and his longtime girlfriend Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking in 2021. Even if one or both of the judges allow the transcripts to be made public, it is unclear whether the public would learn anything new or noteworthy. In the filings, prosecutors said the only witness at Epstein's grand jury was an FBI agent. That same agent and a New York City Police Department detective were the only witnesses at Maxwell's grand jury, prosecutors said. Maxwell's four-week trial in 2021 included public testimony from alleged sex trafficking victims, associates of Epstein and Maxwell, and law enforcement officers. She is serving a 20-year prison sentence in Florida and is asking the US Supreme Court to overturn her conviction. She had pleaded not guilty. The unsealing requests came after Trump earlier in July asked Bondi to seek the release of grand jury transcripts. The president did so after the Justice Department said it concluded that Epstein died by suicide and that there was no incriminating list of his clients. The Justice Department's announcement angered some of Trump's conservative supporters who believe the government is covering up Epstein's ties to the rich and powerful and that the financier was murdered in jail. The transcripts would not represent all previously unreleased material in the government's possession. Investigators and prosecutors may pursue leads that they cannot substantiate or interview potential witnesses whom they do not ultimately call to testify before a grand jury. Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to a prostitution charge brought under Florida law and was given a 13-month sentence in a deal with prosecutors now widely regarded as too lenient. Deputy US Attorney-General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, last week met with Maxwell to see if she had any information about others who had committed crimes. Maxwell's lawyer, David Markus, and Blanche have not provided detailed accounts of their discussions. US President Donald Trump's administration, seeking to ease an uproar plaguing his presidency, has urged two judges to release testimony to a grand jury that indicted Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell on sex trafficking charges. In late-night court filings on Tuesday, US federal prosecutors said unsealing the materials would be appropriate given the "abundant public interest" in the case of Epstein, the late financier, and Maxwell, an imprisoned British socialite. The Republican Trump had promised to make public Epstein-related files if re-elected and accused Democrats of covering up the truth. But earlier in July, the Department of Justice said a previously touted Epstein client list did not exist, angering Trump's supporters. Democrats are also pushing for the release of Epstein files, saying Trump should be held accountable for breaking his promise to release them. US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and a group of his fellow Democrats said they have invoked a century-old law to compel the Justice Department to release a broad range of Epstein documents while protecting the privacy of victims. Asked whether Tuesday's letter to Attorney-General Pam Bondi included the release of grand jury transcripts, Schumer told reporters, "Well, that will have to be litigated." It was unclear whether the Justice Department would aim to respond by the August 15 deadline that the Democrats set. The DOJ first sought court permission on July 18 to make public transcripts of the confidential testimony given by witnesses years ago in the two cases, but Manhattan-based US District Judges Richard Berman and Paul Engelmayer asked the government to flesh out the legal bases for the requests. Trump has faced pressure to make public documents from the federal investigations into Epstein, who took his own life in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, and his longtime girlfriend Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking in 2021. Even if one or both of the judges allow the transcripts to be made public, it is unclear whether the public would learn anything new or noteworthy. In the filings, prosecutors said the only witness at Epstein's grand jury was an FBI agent. That same agent and a New York City Police Department detective were the only witnesses at Maxwell's grand jury, prosecutors said. Maxwell's four-week trial in 2021 included public testimony from alleged sex trafficking victims, associates of Epstein and Maxwell, and law enforcement officers. She is serving a 20-year prison sentence in Florida and is asking the US Supreme Court to overturn her conviction. She had pleaded not guilty. The unsealing requests came after Trump earlier in July asked Bondi to seek the release of grand jury transcripts. The president did so after the Justice Department said it concluded that Epstein died by suicide and that there was no incriminating list of his clients. The Justice Department's announcement angered some of Trump's conservative supporters who believe the government is covering up Epstein's ties to the rich and powerful and that the financier was murdered in jail. The transcripts would not represent all previously unreleased material in the government's possession. Investigators and prosecutors may pursue leads that they cannot substantiate or interview potential witnesses whom they do not ultimately call to testify before a grand jury. Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to a prostitution charge brought under Florida law and was given a 13-month sentence in a deal with prosecutors now widely regarded as too lenient. Deputy US Attorney-General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, last week met with Maxwell to see if she had any information about others who had committed crimes. Maxwell's lawyer, David Markus, and Blanche have not provided detailed accounts of their discussions. US President Donald Trump's administration, seeking to ease an uproar plaguing his presidency, has urged two judges to release testimony to a grand jury that indicted Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell on sex trafficking charges. In late-night court filings on Tuesday, US federal prosecutors said unsealing the materials would be appropriate given the "abundant public interest" in the case of Epstein, the late financier, and Maxwell, an imprisoned British socialite. The Republican Trump had promised to make public Epstein-related files if re-elected and accused Democrats of covering up the truth. But earlier in July, the Department of Justice said a previously touted Epstein client list did not exist, angering Trump's supporters. Democrats are also pushing for the release of Epstein files, saying Trump should be held accountable for breaking his promise to release them. US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and a group of his fellow Democrats said they have invoked a century-old law to compel the Justice Department to release a broad range of Epstein documents while protecting the privacy of victims. Asked whether Tuesday's letter to Attorney-General Pam Bondi included the release of grand jury transcripts, Schumer told reporters, "Well, that will have to be litigated." It was unclear whether the Justice Department would aim to respond by the August 15 deadline that the Democrats set. The DOJ first sought court permission on July 18 to make public transcripts of the confidential testimony given by witnesses years ago in the two cases, but Manhattan-based US District Judges Richard Berman and Paul Engelmayer asked the government to flesh out the legal bases for the requests. Trump has faced pressure to make public documents from the federal investigations into Epstein, who took his own life in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, and his longtime girlfriend Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking in 2021. Even if one or both of the judges allow the transcripts to be made public, it is unclear whether the public would learn anything new or noteworthy. In the filings, prosecutors said the only witness at Epstein's grand jury was an FBI agent. That same agent and a New York City Police Department detective were the only witnesses at Maxwell's grand jury, prosecutors said. Maxwell's four-week trial in 2021 included public testimony from alleged sex trafficking victims, associates of Epstein and Maxwell, and law enforcement officers. She is serving a 20-year prison sentence in Florida and is asking the US Supreme Court to overturn her conviction. She had pleaded not guilty. The unsealing requests came after Trump earlier in July asked Bondi to seek the release of grand jury transcripts. The president did so after the Justice Department said it concluded that Epstein died by suicide and that there was no incriminating list of his clients. The Justice Department's announcement angered some of Trump's conservative supporters who believe the government is covering up Epstein's ties to the rich and powerful and that the financier was murdered in jail. The transcripts would not represent all previously unreleased material in the government's possession. Investigators and prosecutors may pursue leads that they cannot substantiate or interview potential witnesses whom they do not ultimately call to testify before a grand jury. Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to a prostitution charge brought under Florida law and was given a 13-month sentence in a deal with prosecutors now widely regarded as too lenient. Deputy US Attorney-General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, last week met with Maxwell to see if she had any information about others who had committed crimes. Maxwell's lawyer, David Markus, and Blanche have not provided detailed accounts of their discussions. US President Donald Trump's administration, seeking to ease an uproar plaguing his presidency, has urged two judges to release testimony to a grand jury that indicted Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell on sex trafficking charges. In late-night court filings on Tuesday, US federal prosecutors said unsealing the materials would be appropriate given the "abundant public interest" in the case of Epstein, the late financier, and Maxwell, an imprisoned British socialite. The Republican Trump had promised to make public Epstein-related files if re-elected and accused Democrats of covering up the truth. But earlier in July, the Department of Justice said a previously touted Epstein client list did not exist, angering Trump's supporters. Democrats are also pushing for the release of Epstein files, saying Trump should be held accountable for breaking his promise to release them. US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and a group of his fellow Democrats said they have invoked a century-old law to compel the Justice Department to release a broad range of Epstein documents while protecting the privacy of victims. Asked whether Tuesday's letter to Attorney-General Pam Bondi included the release of grand jury transcripts, Schumer told reporters, "Well, that will have to be litigated." It was unclear whether the Justice Department would aim to respond by the August 15 deadline that the Democrats set. The DOJ first sought court permission on July 18 to make public transcripts of the confidential testimony given by witnesses years ago in the two cases, but Manhattan-based US District Judges Richard Berman and Paul Engelmayer asked the government to flesh out the legal bases for the requests. Trump has faced pressure to make public documents from the federal investigations into Epstein, who took his own life in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, and his longtime girlfriend Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking in 2021. Even if one or both of the judges allow the transcripts to be made public, it is unclear whether the public would learn anything new or noteworthy. In the filings, prosecutors said the only witness at Epstein's grand jury was an FBI agent. That same agent and a New York City Police Department detective were the only witnesses at Maxwell's grand jury, prosecutors said. Maxwell's four-week trial in 2021 included public testimony from alleged sex trafficking victims, associates of Epstein and Maxwell, and law enforcement officers. She is serving a 20-year prison sentence in Florida and is asking the US Supreme Court to overturn her conviction. She had pleaded not guilty. The unsealing requests came after Trump earlier in July asked Bondi to seek the release of grand jury transcripts. The president did so after the Justice Department said it concluded that Epstein died by suicide and that there was no incriminating list of his clients. The Justice Department's announcement angered some of Trump's conservative supporters who believe the government is covering up Epstein's ties to the rich and powerful and that the financier was murdered in jail. The transcripts would not represent all previously unreleased material in the government's possession. Investigators and prosecutors may pursue leads that they cannot substantiate or interview potential witnesses whom they do not ultimately call to testify before a grand jury. Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to a prostitution charge brought under Florida law and was given a 13-month sentence in a deal with prosecutors now widely regarded as too lenient. Deputy US Attorney-General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, last week met with Maxwell to see if she had any information about others who had committed crimes. Maxwell's lawyer, David Markus, and Blanche have not provided detailed accounts of their discussions.
