Ghislaine Maxwell to meet justice officials as lawmakers sent home early to dodge Epstein files vote
Deputy Attorney-General Todd Blanche – formerly President Donald Trump's lawyer – said he had approached Maxwell's counsel to see if she would speak with prosecutors, and anticipated meeting her 'in the coming days'. Maxwell's lawyer David Oscar Markus confirmed the discussions.
The development instantly sparked speculation Trump could pardon Maxwell if she were to give evidence that did not implicate the president, who is a former friend of Epstein, and whose presence in the so-called Epstein files has long been rumoured.
Trump has come under intense pressure over the Epstein case in the past fortnight, especially from his Make America Great Again base, after the Justice Department and FBI said they would not release any more records from the investigation and the case was effectively closed.
Many MAGA supporters believe well-known Americans or members of the liberal elite are embroiled in the Epstein affair, and have demanded the documents be publicly released. Some do not believe the disgraced financier killed himself in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. The FBI says there is no evidence of foul play.
Trump, who denies any knowledge of Epstein's crimes and says the pair fell out in the 2000s, initially said he supported releasing the records. The White House furnished a group of right-wing podcasters and influencers with a select trove of documents in February, but these proved to contain little new information.
Since then, Trump has played down the scandal, calling it 'boring' and queried why anyone would still be interested in the Epstein matter. He denounced his own supporters for buying into 'bullshit', and said the Epstein matter was a 'hoax' perpetuated by the Democrats.
But amid continuing pressure, he asked Attorney-General Pam Bondi to unseal grand jury transcripts, which represent only a part of the evidence and must be approved by a judge, and release any 'credible' evidence.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Trump, EU's von der Leyen to meet to clinch trade deal
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to meet US President Donald Trump to clinch a trade deal for Europe that would likely see a 15 per cent baseline tariff on most EU goods, but end months of uncertainty for EU companies. Before the meeting, expected at 1530 GMT Sunday (0130 AEST Monday) on Trump's golf course in Turnberry, western Scotland, US and EU teams were in final talks on tariffs for crucial sectors like cars, steel, aluminium or pharmaceuticals. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick flew to Scotland on Saturday and EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic arrived on Sunday morning. Lutnick told "Fox News Sunday" that the EU needed to open its markets for more US exports to convince Trump to reduce a threatened 30 per cent tariff rate that is due to kick in on August 1. "The question is, do they offer President Trump a good enough deal that is worth it for him to step off of the 30 per cent tariffs that he set," Lutnick said, adding that the EU clearly wanted - and needed - to reach an agreement. A separate U.S. administration official was upbeat that a deal was possible. "We're cautiously optimistic that there will be a deal reached," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "But it's not over till it's over." Ambassadors of EU governments, on a weekend trip to Greenland organised by the Danish presidency of the EU, held a teleconference with EU Commission officials on Sunday to agree on the amount of leeway von der Leyen would have in the talks. In case there is no deal and the U.S. imposes 30 per cent tariffs from August 1, the EU has prepared counter-tariffs on 93 bn euros ($A164 bn) of US goods. EU diplomats have said a deal would likely include a broad 15 per cent tariff on EU goods imported into the US, mirroring the U.S.-Japan trade deal, along with a 50 per cent tariff on European steel and aluminium for which there could be export quotas. The EU deal would be a huge prize, given that the US and EU are each other's largest trading partners by far and account for a third of global trade. EU officials are hopeful that a 15 per cent baseline tariff would also apply to cars, replacing the current 27.5 per cent auto tariff. Some expect the 27-nation bloc may be able to secure exemptions from the 15 per cent baseline tariff for its aerospace industry and for spirits, though probably not for wine. The EU could also pledge to buy more liquefied natural gas from the US, a long-standing offer, and boost investment in the United States. The US president, in Scotland for a few days of golfing and bilateral meetings, told reporters upon his arrival on Friday evening that von der Leyen was a highly respected leader and he was looking forward to meeting with her.
West Australian
3 hours ago
- West Australian
Trump, EU's von der Leyen to meet to clinch trade deal
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to meet US President Donald Trump to clinch a trade deal for Europe that would likely see a 15 per cent baseline tariff on most EU goods, but end months of uncertainty for EU companies. Before the meeting, expected at 1530 GMT Sunday (0130 AEST Monday) on Trump's golf course in Turnberry, western Scotland, US and EU teams were in final talks on tariffs for crucial sectors like cars, steel, aluminium or pharmaceuticals. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick flew to Scotland on Saturday and EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic arrived on Sunday morning. Lutnick told "Fox News Sunday" that the EU needed to open its markets for more US exports to convince Trump to reduce a threatened 30 per cent tariff rate that is due to kick in on August 1. "The question is, do they offer President Trump a good enough deal that is worth it for him to step off of the 30 per cent tariffs that he set," Lutnick said, adding that the EU clearly wanted - and needed - to reach an agreement. A separate U.S. administration official was upbeat that a deal was possible. "We're cautiously optimistic that there will be a deal reached," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "But it's not over till it's over." Ambassadors of EU governments, on a weekend trip to Greenland organised by the Danish presidency of the EU, held a teleconference with EU Commission officials on Sunday to agree on the amount of leeway von der Leyen would have in the talks. In case there is no deal and the U.S. imposes 30 per cent tariffs from August 1, the EU has prepared counter-tariffs on 93 bn euros ($A164 bn) of US goods. EU diplomats have said a deal would likely include a broad 15 per cent tariff on EU goods imported into the US, mirroring the U.S.-Japan trade deal, along with a 50 per cent tariff on European steel and aluminium for which there could be export quotas. The EU deal would be a huge prize, given that the US and EU are each other's largest trading partners by far and account for a third of global trade. EU officials are hopeful that a 15 per cent baseline tariff would also apply to cars, replacing the current 27.5 per cent auto tariff. Some expect the 27-nation bloc may be able to secure exemptions from the 15 per cent baseline tariff for its aerospace industry and for spirits, though probably not for wine. The EU could also pledge to buy more liquefied natural gas from the US, a long-standing offer, and boost investment in the United States. The US president, in Scotland for a few days of golfing and bilateral meetings, told reporters upon his arrival on Friday evening that von der Leyen was a highly respected leader and he was looking forward to meeting with her.
Sydney Morning Herald
9 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Trump uses trade threat to push for peace in call with leaders of Cambodia and Thailand
Both Thailand and Cambodia face a steep 36 per cent tariff on their exports to the United States, as part of Trump's trade war. The US is Thailand's biggest export customer. Earlier this week, Thailand said it was close to reaching a deal with the US that would see the tariff rate cut in exchange for allowing greater market access to US agricultural and industrial products. Thailand and Cambodia have faced off since the killing of a Cambodian soldier late in May during a brief skirmish. Troops on both sides of the border were reinforced amid a full-blown diplomatic crisis that brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse. The tensions erupted on Thursday at as many as eight locations along the border, where sovereignty has been ambiguous for more than a century. Small arms fire escalated to heavy shelling of military targets on both sides, and Thailand said Cambodian rockets had also hit civilian areas, including a hospital. Phnom Penh said a Thai F-16 jet had bombed a road near the famous Preah Vihear Temple. At least 19 people – mostly civilians – have been killed so far in Thailand, while Cambodia said on Saturday that 12 more people had died on its side, bringing its toll to 13. Dozens of others have also been reported injured in the fighting. Both sides have now sought diplomatic support to end the conflict, saying they had acted in self-defence and calling on the other to cease fighting and start negotiations. Thailand's ambassador to the UN told an emergency meeting of the Security Council – called by Cambodia and held behind closed doors late on Friday in New York – that soldiers had been injured by landmines in Thai territory on two occasions since mid-July and that Cambodia had then launched attacks on Thursday morning. Cambodia has stated the landmines were leftovers from previous conflicts. 'Thailand urges Cambodia to immediately cease all hostilities and acts of aggression, and resume dialogue in good faith,' Cherdchai Chaivaivid told the council in remarks released to media. Cambodia has strongly denied the claims. Its defence ministry said Thailand had launched the 'deliberate, unprovoked, and unlawful military attack' on Thursday, and was now mobilising troops and military equipment on the border. Loading 'These deliberate military preparations reveal Thailand's intent to expand its aggression and further violate Cambodia's sovereignty,' the ministry said in a statement on Saturday. Cambodia's UN ambassador Chhea Keo told reporters after the security council meeting that his country had 'asked for immediate ceasefires, unconditionally, and we also call for the peaceful solution to the dispute'. He responded to accusations that Cambodia attacked Thailand, asking how a small country with no air force could attack a much larger country with an army three times its size, stressing: 'We do not do that.' Bangkok has reiterated it wanted to resolve the dispute bilaterally, telling the Security Council it was 'deeply regrettable that Cambodia has deliberately avoided meaningful dialogue and instead sought to internationalise the issue to serve its own political objectives'. Cambodia has also expressed outrage at Thailand's use of cluster munitions, calling it a violation of international law. Thailand's military, however, said the country was not a party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, but that it followed the principle of proportionality, 'to enhance explosive destruction capabilities against military targets only'. The Security Council did not issue a statement, but a diplomat said all 15 members called on the parties to de-escalate, show restraint and resolve the dispute peacefully. The council also urged the regional bloc, the Association of South-East Asian Nations – known as ASEAN – to help resolve the border fighting, the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the meeting was private. Malaysia, which chairs the 10-nation regional bloc that includes both countries, called for an end to hostilities and offered to mediate. Loading Australia and Britain have issued travel advisories to avoid certain areas of Cambodia and Thailand, including the border regions of Buriram, Si Sa Ket, Surin, and Ubon Ratchathani provinces. As the fighting intensified, villagers on both sides have been caught in the crossfire, leading many to flee. About 600 people took shelter at a gymnasium in a university in Surin, Thailand, some 80 kilometres from the border. Evacuees sat in groups, on mats and blankets, and queued for food and drinks. Seamstress Pornpan Sooksai was accompanied by four cats in two fabric carriers. She said she was doing laundry at her home near Ta Muen Thom temple when shelling began on Thursday. 'I just heard, boom, boom. We already prepared the cages, clothes and everything, so we ran and carried our things to the car. I was frightened, scared,' she recalled. Rattana Meeying, another evacuee, said she had also lived through the 2011 clashes between the two countries but described this flare-up as worse. 'Children, old people, were hit out of the blue,' she said. 'I never imagined it would be this violent.' In the Kantharalak district of Thailand's Sisaket province, on the border near some of the clashes, hotel worker Chianuwat Thalalai said the town had emptied. 'Nearly everybody's gone, it's almost a deserted city,' the 31-year-old told Reuters. 'My hotel is still open for some of those nearer to the border area that need a place to stay.' Across the border in Cambodia, villages on the outskirts of Oddar Meanchey province were largely deserted. Homes stood locked, while chickens and dogs roamed outside. Loading Some villagers earlier dug holes to create makeshift underground bunkers, covering them with wood, tarpaulin and zinc sheets to shield themselves from shelling. Families with children were seen packing their belongings on homemade tractors to evacuate, though a few men refused to leave. A remote Buddhist temple surrounded by rice fields accommodated several hundred evacuated villagers. Women rested in hammocks, some cradling babies, while children ran about. Makeshift plastic tents were being set up under the trees.
