Latest news with #FederalBureauOfInvestigation
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Fans Torch Their MAGA Hats Over Epstein ‘Cover-Up'
MAGA has found a new way to express its fury over the infamous 'Epstein files.' President Donald Trump's fevered support base has been in an uproar after the Departmnet of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed in a memo July 6 the disgraced financier kept no 'client list' and likely died by suicide while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, rather than being murdered, in 2019—the subject of widespread conspiracy theories among Trump's supporters. 'We need to burn our MAGA hats, I think that's a solution. That's the only language Trump will understand. He needs to be abandoned at this point,' white nationalist and avowed Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes said in a clip from his podcast shared on X. 'The message needs to be this: 'We're done, we don't understand. The radical right is f---ing furious. We are done.'' The MAGA-verse has since taken up Fuentes' call, posting videos torching their iconic red caps in backyards, firepits, and even on BBQ grills. 'We're not gonna play with these anymore,' one person said in a clip widely shared on X. 'MAGA hats are off, America First hats are on.' 'This is a great representation of what's left of MAGA,' the user added toward the end of the video, surveying the ashes on the pile. 'Just burnt my MAGA hat,' another person posted along with a similar video. 'Why the f--k would you go to that island? @realDonaldTrump.' A former Epstein associate in his own right—in August 2017, Epstein told Trump biographer Michael Wolff that Turmp was his 'closest friend'—Trump for years courted conspiracy theorists and far-right influencers convinced the late pedophile was just one actor in an expansive sex trafficking ring and that Democrats orchestrated death in prison to shield his wealthy allies. But his pledges on the campaign trail to release previously unknown details of Epstein's case have now backfired spectacularly, with FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino—a true believer in the Epstein cover-up and previously a luminary in the conspiratorial world of conservative podcasting—threatening to resign over Attorney General Pam Bondi's handling of the case. Trump's efforts to calm the storm have fallen largely on deaf ears. During a Tuesday cabinet meeting, he angrily berated reporters for continuing to discuss 'this creep' Epstein, and wrote on Truth Social over the weekend that 'we're on one team, MAGA, and I don't like what's happening,' further urging followers to 'LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB—SHE'S GREAT!' Despite those overtures, interest in what remains of the findings in the Epstein case to be released to the public has only continued to mount, with CNN finding an almost 2,000 percent surge in Google searches on the late financier over the past seven days alone.
The Guardian
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide, justice department and FBI review confirms
A review of files held by the US government on the financier Jeffrey Epstein has said there is no secret client list to be released, and confirmed his August 2019 death by suicide while in federal custody, both of which contradict conspiracy theories. A memo said that a Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) review of the files – which has for years been teased as a treasure trove of information about a larger network of wrongdoing – concluded that no further charges are expected, as investigators 'did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties'. The justice department also released hours of footage taken from Manhattan's metropolitan correctional center, showing that no one entered or left the area where Epstein was held during, before or after the time medical examiners concluded he took his life. 'As part of our commitment to transparency, the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have conducted an exhaustive review of investigative holdings relating to Jeffrey Epstein,' the DOJ said. It added that the review included 'digital searches of its databases, hard drives, and network drives as well as physical searches of squad areas, locked cabinets, desks, closets, and other areas where responsive material may have been stored'. The department said it had uncovered 'a significant amount of material', including more than 300 gigabytes of data and physical evidence that included 'a large volume of images of Epstein, images and videos of victims who are either minors or appear to be minors, and over ten thousand downloaded videos and images of illegal child sex abuse material and other pornography'. 'Through this review, we found no basis to revisit the disclosure of those materials and will not permit the release of child pornography,' the memo said. Nor, the statement continued, did the review uncover an incriminating 'client list' or find credible evidence that Epstein was involved in blackmailing prominent individuals. No further charges are expected in connection with the investigations into Epstein, the memo said, as investigators 'did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties'. The attorney general, Pam Bondi, had previously promised the public release of scores of records related to Epstein, but an earlier release of documents did nothing to advance the conspiracy narratives that have emerged since his death. Soon after the memo was made public by Axios, and later by the independent journalist Jessica Reed Kraus on Substack, Elon Musk voiced his disappointment, posting an image to the social platform X of 'The Official Jeffrey Epstein Pedophile Arrest Counter,' set to '0000'. 'What's the time? Oh look, it's no-one-has-been-arrested-o'clock again,' Musk captioned the photo. The billionaire CEO of Tesla, who is feuding with Donald Trump after his work to gut federal government spending through the 'department of government efficiency' (Doge) seemed to run counter to Trump's recent bill that will massively increase the deficit, has previously intimated that Epstein file releases promised by the justice department had been stalled because Trump himself was implicated. 'Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files,' he wrote. 'That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT.' Trump dismissed Musk's claims to NBC News: 'That's called 'old news.' That's been old news. That has been talked about for years. Even Epstein's lawyer said I had nothing to do with it – it's old news,' he said. The justice department also said its review of the files was consistent with prior disclosures on the case and its review confirmed that Epstein harmed over one thousand victims. 'Each suffered unique trauma. Sensitive information relating to these victims is intertwined throughout the materials. This includes specific details such as victim names and likenesses, physical descriptions, places of birth, associates, and employment history. 'One of our highest priorities is combatting child exploitation and bringing justice to victims. Perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein serves neither of those ends.'
The Guardian
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide, justice department and FBI review confirms
A review of files held by the US government on the financier Jeffrey Epstein has said there is no secret client list to be released, and confirmed his August 2019 death by suicide while in federal custody, both of which contradict conspiracy theories. A memo said that a Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) review of the files – which has for years been teased as a treasure trove of information about a larger network of wrongdoing – concluded that no further charges are expected, as investigators 'did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties'. The justice department also released hours of footage taken from Manhattan's metropolitan correctional center, showing that no one entered or left the area where Epstein was held during, before or after the time medical examiners concluded he took his life. 'As part of our commitment to transparency, the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have conducted an exhaustive review of investigative holdings relating to Jeffrey Epstein,' the DOJ said. It added that the review included 'digital searches of its databases, hard drives, and network drives as well as physical searches of squad areas, locked cabinets, desks, closets, and other areas where responsive material may have been stored'. The department said it had uncovered 'a significant amount of material', including more than 300 gigabytes of data and physical evidence that included 'a large volume of images of Epstein, images and videos of victims who are either minors or appear to be minors, and over ten thousand downloaded videos and images of illegal child sex abuse material and other pornography'. 'Through this review, we found no basis to revisit the disclosure of those materials and will not permit the release of child pornography,' the memo said. Nor, the statement continued, did the review uncover an incriminating 'client list' or find credible evidence that Epstein was involved in blackmailing prominent individuals. No further charges are expected in connection with the investigations into Epstein, the memo said, as investigators 'did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties'. The attorney general, Pam Bondi, had previously promised the public release of scores of records related to Epstein, but an earlier release of documents did nothing to advance the conspiracy narratives that have emerged since his death. Soon after the memo was made public by Axios, and later by the independent journalist Jessica Reed Kraus on Substack, Elon Musk voiced his disappointment, posting an image to the social platform X of 'The Official Jeffrey Epstein Pedophile Arrest Counter,' set to '0000'. 'What's the time? Oh look, it's no-one-has-been-arrested-o'clock again,' Musk captioned the photo. The billionaire CEO of Tesla, who is feuding with Donald Trump after his work to gut federal government spending through the 'department of government efficiency' (Doge) seemed to run counter to Trump's recent bill that will massively increase the deficit, has previously intimated that Epstein file releases promised by the justice department had been stalled because Trump himself was implicated. 'Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files,' he wrote. 'That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT.' Trump dismissed Musk's claims to NBC News: 'That's called 'old news.' That's been old news. That has been talked about for years. Even Epstein's lawyer said I had nothing to do with it – it's old news,' he said. The justice department also said that its review of the files was consistent with prior disclosures on the case and its review confirmed that Epstein harmed over one thousand victims. 'Each suffered unique trauma. Sensitive information relating to these victims is intertwined throughout the materials. This includes specific details such as victim names and likenesses, physical descriptions, places of birth, associates, and employment history. 'One of our highest priorities is combatting child exploitation and bringing justice to victims. Perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein serves neither of those ends.'
CBS News
19-06-2025
- CBS News
Macomb County teen facing federal charges for distributing child pornography, animal torture videos
A criminal complaint has been filed against a Macomb County, Michigan, man on one charge each of distribution of animal crush videos, distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography. This is a federal case, with a detention hearing on Wednesday at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. His next court appearance is June 30. A Task Force Officer with the Federal Bureau of Investigation filed the complaint, saying the activity cited happened in Macomb County. A tip about possible child pornography involved file uploads to Discord from a Macomb County address in January 2025, one of a young girl and one of a young boy. The individual under investigation had recently turned 18, according to the court records. Federal officials served a search warrant in April at that home, seizing an iPhone and questioning its owner about Discord activity. Subsequent review of the phone contents and associated email addresses provided authorities with photos and videos that included depictions of child pornography and of animal torture, the report said.
National Post
06-06-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Amy Hamm: FBI completely justified in targeting 'gender-affirming' doctors
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is asking the public for tips on hospitals or practitioners who are performing 'gender-affirming' surgeries on minors. It's illegal, and it's mutilation, says the FBI. Article content Is the FBI fibbing about the law? To an extent. Article content The bureau's announcement follows President Donald Trump's Jan. 28 executive order, 'Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,' which attempted to ban childhood medical transition by defunding any federally supported institution that carries out these procedures. The order was challenged in court, in an ongoing case called PFLAG v. Trump, and an injunction prevents its implementation. Article content This hasn't stopped the FBI's assistant director for public affairs, Ben Williamson, from calling such surgeries illegal — even if they technically are not. On Monday, after Axios published an article about the bureau's interest in 'gender-affirming surgeries,' Williamson responded on X, 'Actually what we said was we would like tips on any hospitals or clinics who break the law and mutilate children under the guise of 'gender affirming care.'' Article content Article content The FBI made a similar post on X that same day: 'Help the FBI protect children. As the Attorney General has made clear, we will protect our children and hold accountable those who mutilate them under the guise of gender-affirming care. Report tips of any hospitals, clinics, or practitioners performing these surgical procedures on children at 1-800-CALL-FBI or Article content Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, say the move is all for show, and is not based on current or enforceable laws, despite the fact that many states currently have laws banning pediatric gender transition. These critics certainly have a strong argument — but it is entirely beside the point. Article content Article content The FBI, with its callout for public tips, has taken an extrajudicial moral stance on the worst medical scandal of our time. It was an act of leadership and clarity. And it will be remembered as such in history books. Article content Article content The federal law enforcement agency's statement 'may only be intended to scare medical practitioners away from offering those services,' as per critics who spoke with CNN. That's a fair assessment. The FBI probably is doing just that — and it deserves commendation for it. Article content Swathes of persons within the American medical establishment are ignoring the overwhelming evidence on the harms of 'gender-affirming' care. It is therefore an act of moral valour for the FBI to intimidate physicians and health-care providers from participating in what is now increasingly recognized as an ongoing — though petering — medical scandal. Article content This is the stark reality: children, often gay or autistic — and with limited capacity to consent — are being permanently sterilized and physically altered by major surgeries and cross-sex hormones. Forget the cutesy euphemisms about 'top surgery' (double mastectomies) or 'puberty blocking' (possibly irreversible chemical castration). Forget the lie that this 'care' is a suicide-preventing intervention for youth who were 'born in the wrong body' — two false claims.
