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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump-Epstein latest: DOJ to interview Ghislaine Maxwell as White House bans WSJ from president's travel pool and House speaker punts vote
The fallout continues over the administration's handling of its investigation into the late accused sex trafficker. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Tuesday that the Department of Justice wants to interview Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend. Maxwell was convicted in 2020 of helping the disgraced financier sexually abuse underage girls and is currently serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison. "If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say," Blanche said in a statement posted to X, adding that he has reached out to her counsel and anticipates meeting with her "in the coming days." In a statement to the Associated Press, David Oscar Markus, a lawyer for Maxwell, confirmed that they were 'in discussions with the government' and that Maxwell will 'always testify truthfully.' 'We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case,' the statement added. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said that he did not know about Blanche's overture to Maxwell, but added that it 'sounds appropriate.' 'I didn't know that they were going to do it,' Trump said. 'I don't really follow that too much. It's sort of a witch hunt, just a continuation of the witch hunt.' The Epstein fallout The announcement comes amid a fierce backlash from some of Trump's supporters over the administration's handling of its investigation into Epstein, who died by suicide in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial. Epstein has long been the focus of conspiracy theories that claim Epstein was murdered to conceal the names of powerful people on a secret 'client list.' Trump said he would consider releasing additional government files on Epstein and directed the Justice Department to conduct an exhaustive review of any evidence collected in its investigation. Earlier this month, the DOJ and FBI released a two-page joint memo, concluding that Epstein 'committed suicide in his cell" and had no such 'client list.' The move enraged some Trump loyalists, who accused the president and his administration of breaking their promise to release all of the Epstein files, and put Trump's relationship with Epstein back in the spotlight. White House bans WSJ from travel pool over Epstein report Late last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump sent Epstein a racy birthday letter in 2003. According to the Journal, Trump's letter, along with dozens of others, was part of a leather-bound book put together by Maxwell for the since-disgraced financier's 50th birthday. 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,' Trump's letter concluded in a typewritten message to Epstein, per the Journal. The text was 'framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with heavy marker,' the report stated. 'A pair of small arcs denotes the woman's breasts, and the future president's signature is a squiggly 'Donald' below her waist, mimicking pubic hair.' Trump denied the report, calling it 'false, malicious, and defamatory,' and sued the newspaper and its owner, Rupert Murdoch. Also read: What Trump has said about Epstein through the years, from 'terrific guy' to 'creep' that 'nobody cares about' On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the paper would be excluded from the pool of news organizations covering Trump's upcoming trip to Scotland. 'Thirteen diverse outlets will participate in the press pool to cover the President's trip to Scotland,' Leavitt said in a statement. 'Due to the Wall Street Journal's fake and defamatory conduct, they will not be one of the 13 outlets on board.' The New York Times, a rival newspaper to the Journal, blasted the White House's decision. 'The White House's refusal to let one of the nation's leading news organizations cover the highest office in the country is an attack on core constitutional principles underpinning free speech and free press,' the Times said in a statement. 'Americans regardless of party deserve to know and understand the actions of the president and reporters play a vital role in advancing the public interest. This is simple retribution by a president against a news organization for doing reporting that he doesn't like.' House speaker won't allow Epstein vote before summer recess Late Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would not allow any votes related to the Epstein matter before the House takes its weekslong summer recess, which begins on Wednesday afternoon. 'My belief is we need the administration to have the space to do what it is doing, and if further congressional action is necessary or appropriate, then we'll look at that,' Johnson told CNN. 'But I don't think we're at that point right now.' Johnson's decision comes despite intense pressure from some members of his own party who are demanding more transparency from the Trump administration on its Epstein investigation. Last week, at least 10 House Republicans joined an effort launched by Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie and California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna to force a symbolic vote on the release of more Epstein files. Congress does not have the authority to compel the Justice Department to release the files, but any vote would amount to a loyalty test among House Republicans regarding the Epstein case.
The Independent
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
The View host tears into Republican infighting over Epstein files
The View host Ana Navarro tore into Republicans' responses to the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files during Tuesday's (15 July) program. It comes as a growing number of the president's supporters have complained after he encouraged people to move on from the Epstein files. For years, right-wing influencers circulated theories online about the government's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and his death in federal prison, perpetuating claims that a ring of high-profile, powerful individuals helped cover up the convicted pedophile's actions and ensure he never stood trial. But last week's Justice Department and FBI memo shut down many of those theories, including the existence of a 'client list,' and disappointed many Trump supporters who refused to believe the absence of bombshell revelations. "It turns out that when you spend years building a five-alarm fire, you can't put it out by pissing on it," Ms Navarro said.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Todd Chrisley Says His ‘Sole Intent' While in Prison ‘Every Day' Was to Make Staff ‘Miserable'
Todd Chrisley revealed he didn't get along with the staff in prison during an appearance on the July 1 episode of daughter Savannah's Unlocked podcast Todd revealed that he worked to make correctional officers' lives "even more miserable" than they made his during his time behind bars Todd and his wife, Julie Chrisley, were two years into their collective 15-year prison sentence for bank fraud and tax evasion when President Donald Trump issued them full pardons in MayTodd Chrisley is revealing his prison pet peeve — and how he dealt with it. During an appearance on daughter Savannah's Unlocked podcast on Tuesday, July 1, Todd and his wife, Julie Chrisley, opened up about their time behind bars. While the family patriarch, 56, said he rarely had conflict with other inmates at Florida's Federal Prison Camp Pensacola during his two-year tenure, he admitted that he didn't exactly get along with those who worked there. 'I told staff off,' Todd shared. 'I told C.O.s [correctional officers] and staff [off].' When Julie, 52, noted that she never experienced that in the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Ky., Todd teased that it was because she was probably 'up there being Miss Pollyanna,' referencing the overly-optimistic character in Eleanor H. Porter's famous 1913 novel. Not everything was entirely smooth for Julie, though. Savannah, 27, recalled an incident that occurred at the beginning of her mom's sentence involving a staff member. 'I will never forget at the very beginning, you called me, and you were all to pieces because that one a------ C.O. [correctional officer],' Savannah said. 'He locked her in the cafeteria!' 'Oh yeah, he was a food service [worker],' Julie noted. 'Yeah. He's since retired.' Savannah further alleged that 'he did it because he was pissed off at her — he did it on purpose.' In a statement to PEOPLE, a representative for FMC Lexington wrote that "Humane treatment of the men and women in our custody is a top priority," although they did not comment directly in regards to Julie. 'He was just a miserable human being, he really was,' Julie claimed as Todd agreed and said, 'They all are.' 'I would have put a BP8 on his a--,' he added, referring to filing an administrative complaint. 'I was surrounded by miserable human beings. And every day, I got up and it was my sole intent to make their life even more miserable because they were there to make our lives miserable.' Both Todd and Julie went on to explain that some inmates made an effort to 'buddy up to the staff,' and Todd said 'never understood' why. 'They'd go tell on everyone else,' he remembered. 'And I would say to them, I'd say, 'What in your mind makes you think that they're your friends? It is us against them.'' 'They are not your friends, that's for sure,' Julie quipped. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The Chrisley Knows Best alums had been incarcerated since January 2023 after being found guilty on charges of tax evasion and bank fraud in 2022. They were sentenced to a combined 19 years in prison, although that number was later reduced by about two years each. Following several attempts to appeal their convictions, President Donald Trump issued Todd and Julie full pardons on May 27 of this year. They returned home the next day and have continued to maintain their innocence. Read the original article on People
Fox News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Menendez to report to prison for 11-year term for corruption
Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., is scheduled to report to federal prison on Tuesday for an 11-year sentence after being convicted for a bribery and corruption scheme that even his lawyer admitted earned him the nickname "Gold Bar Bob." Though he maintains his innocence, Menendez was convicted on all 16 counts last July. At trial, federal prosecutors argued that the longtime senator accepted bribes of gold bars, hundreds of thousands in cash and other luxury items from three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for favors that benefited the trio, as well as the governments of Egypt and Qatar. Menendez, 71, spent the last day before reporting to the federal prison in eastern Pennsylvania with his wife, Nadine, who was also convicted in the bribery scheme and is set to be sentenced in September. The couple were spotted together Monday walking into a credit union in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., according to photos obtained by the New York Post. In court papers last month, Menendez's lawyers revealed that he is expected to be housed at a facility in eastern Pennsylvania that has both a medium-security prison and a minimum-security prison camp. Given the white-collar nature of his crimes, it is likely he will end up in the camp, according to the Associated Press. The prison, the Federal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill, is about 118 miles west of New York City. It is home to about 1,200 inmates, including ex-New York City organized crime boss James Coonan and former gas station owner Gurmeet Singh Dhinsa, whom the New York Post dubbed "Gas-Station Gotti" for his ruthless, violent ways. Last week, a federal appeals court rejected Menendez's last-ditch effort to remain free on bail while he fights to get his bribery conviction overturned. A three-judge panel on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied his bail motion. Pleading for leniency, Menendez told a judge at his sentencing in January: "I am far from a perfect man. I have made more than my share of mistakes and bad decisions. I've done far more good than bad." Menendez appeared to reference Republican President Donald Trump's claims of a weaponized justice system when speaking to media after that hearing. "This process is political, and it's corrupted to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system," Menendez told reporters at the time. At his January sentencing, Menendez's lawyers described how the son of Cuban immigrants emerged from poverty to become "the epitome of the American Dream" — rising from mayor of Union City, New Jersey, to decades in Congress — before his conviction "rendered him a national punchline." "Despite his decades of service, he is now known more widely as Gold Bar Bob," defense lawyer Adam Fee told the judge. Menendez, who once served as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, resigned his seat a month after his conviction. He had been in the Senate since 2006. In a 2022 raid of Menendez's home, the FBI uncovered approximately $480,000 in cash and gold bars valued at about $150,000 hidden in clothing, shoes, bags and boxes in various locations. A luxury Mercedes-Benz convertible was also at the house. Prosecutors pointed to payments allegedly made through a sham consulting firm and alleged that Menendez used his influence to help Egypt secure $300 million in U.S. military aid, influence U.S. policy in Egypt and Qatar and prevent criminal probes into his associates, Wael Hana, Fred Daibes and Jose Uribe. Uribe testified against his co-defendants. Menendez was convicted of counts including bribery, extortion, wire fraud, obstruction of justice, acting as a foreign agent for Egypt and multiple conspiracy charges.
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Will Trump's former high-society friend Ghislaine Maxwell be the next infamous inmate to be pardoned?
She was famously photographed with Donald Trump at exclusive parties in Manhattan and Mar-a-Lago in her heyday, but can Ghislaine Maxwell 's one-time friend-turned-president now serve as her key to freedom? With TV reality couple Todd and Julie Chrisley's surprise early release this week, speculation is now swirling over whether Trump could pardon another infamous inmate from his high-society orbit next, can reveal. Maxwell is currently serving 20 years in federal prison for being notorious sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein 's enabler. can disclose one ultra-close source to the Maxwell family has not dismissed the hope of a Trump intervention out of hand – following his sensational pardoning of the Chrisleys, who were convicted of federal bank fraud and tax evasion charges in 2022. Maxwell's freedom-campaigning brothers Ian and Kevin Maxwell haven't formally petitioned the president for the ultimate clemency, but her family isn't ruling out the possibility, a close source told exclusively. 'It's not a bad idea to ask President Trump for a pardon. He knew her. He's probably got views about whether she's innocent or guilty,' a member of the Maxwell family's inner circle said. The 'who's next' speculation is running hot following the release of husband-and-wife TV duo Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were jailed for a $30million bank fraud and tax evasion in 2022. They were sprung from prison this week after MAGA-supporter daughter Savannah's passionate Fox TV interview with the president's daughter-in-law Lara Trump. President Trump told 27-year-old Savannah her parents 'don't look like terrorists' and privately conveyed he thought they'd been treated unfairly. In the case of Maxwell – inmate number 02879-509 at the federal women's prison in Tallahassee, Florida – the issue is wrought with more complexity. The British socialite former pal of Prince Andrew lost her appeal in 2024 against five counts related to sex trafficking for helping multi-millionaire financier Epstein abuse underage girls around the world. But in April this year her legal team filed a petition to the US Supreme Court, claiming she was covered by a 2007 non-prosecution agreement for any Epstein co-conspirator. Maxwell, 63, was sentenced in June 2022 after a lengthy New York trial. She was immediately sent to her Florida prison, where has exclusively photographed her pounding around the facility's running track. Brothers Ian, 69, and Kevin, 66, supported her in court and have campaigned tirelessly for her release since her 2021 conviction, proclaiming her innocence and alleging she did not receive a fair hearing. Yet overshadowing every twist and turn in Maxwell's bid for freedom is one word: Epstein. The notorious pedophile who killed himself in a New York jail in 2019 rather than face court for his sickening crimes. And adding to the complexity is the historic Trump connection – to both of them. The disgraced British socialite was previously revealed to have been moved to the facility's 'honor dorm', reserved for the best behaved inmates. Pictured above is one of the single level housing units in the female prison at FCI The Commander in Chief innocently rubbed shoulders with Epstein on the social circuit in Palm Beach and Manhattan in the 1990s and early 2000s. He was photographed with him and one video from 1992 shows them sharing a joke as women danced at the President's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach. President Trump told New York magazine in 2002: 'I've known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.' However after Epstein's dramatic arrest at Teterboro Airport, New Jersey following a trip to Paris, Trump said at the White House: 'People in Palm Beach knew him, he was a fixture in Palm Beach. 'I had a falling out with him a long time ago. I don't think I've spoken to him for 15 years. I wasn't a fan.' He emphasized he had no idea of Epstein's crimes before his arrest. President Trump and Maxwell were also photographed together as they socialized at events. First Lady Melania appears in at least three shots with them before her 2005 marriage. The most bizarre was taken at supermodel Heidi Klum's 'hookers and pimps' themed Halloween party in October 2000. It shows President Trump with his arms around a smiling Melania and Maxwell, who is dressed in a bleach blonde wig, leopard print jacket and gold leather pants. Prince Andrew was also at the event. Earlier that year, blue-suited Trump, Melania, casually-dressed Epstein and Maxwell – sporting a bare midriff and back in a blue top with gold tassels – posed for the camera at a Mar-a-Lago event. And in September 2000, Melania, Trump and Maxwell were snapped together at Anand Jon's fashion show in New York City. Two years later the current President and First Lady were photographed with Maxwell and British supermodel Naomi Campbell at the opening of the Dolce & Gabbana fashion house. Maxwell vanished after Epstein was arrested but was eventually arrested in a dramatic FBI raid on her secluded hideaway in a deeply rural part of New Hampshire. Following the swoop, President Trump said of her: 'I met her numerous times over the years, especially since I live in Palm Beach, and I guess they lived in Palm Beach. But I wish her well, whatever it is.' Maxwell was a fixture at Epstein's notorious private island of Little St. James in the US Virgin Islands, where he helicoptered in under-age girls to sexually abuse in a years-long reign of vile crimes. The Chrisley Knows Best stars were found guilty of defrauding banks out of $30million in 2022; seen in 2017 Wearing a hot pink MAGA hat, Savannah told TMZ that she is 'so grateful that I'm going to leave here with my dad' after an 'insane' two years of her trying to get him and Julie freed She was also a regular on his private Boeing 727 jet, dubbed the Lolita Express, which carried Andrew and former President Bill Clinton among a host of other names, according to flight logs. Crucially she acted as a 'madame' for Epstein, recruiting vulnerable young girls from the West Palm Beach area to give Epstein 'massages' at his $20million mansion in ritzy Palm Beach. There, he would abuse them. One was tragic Virginia Giuffre, who was working as a locker room attendant at Mar-a-Lago when she said Maxwell approached her in the mid 2000s. She said it led to years of harrowing abuse where she claimed she was 'passed around like a platter of fruit' to Epstein's powerful associates. Giuffre, known as Roberts at the time, alleged one was Prince Andrew – famously photographed with his arm around her in Maxwell's London home with the socialite in the background. The royal has consistently denied her accusations, although did pay her a reported payout of up to $16million in 2022. Despite attempts to build a new life in Australia, mother-of-three Giuffre's marriage collapsed and the 41-year-old killed herself at her home on May 1 this year. Maxwell's time behind bars has had moments of trauma, despite the prison being designated a low security facility for women. She's been branded the ultimate 'prison Karen' for filing more than 400 complaints, including lackluster vegan menu options and 'unfair treatment'. The disgraced socialite also demanded authorities give her immediate access to black hair dye. And she also even bagged plush hypoallergenic bedding after whining that standard prison pillows were triggering her allergies. Her gripes in the past have targeted everyone from inmates and guards to a 'rude' laundry woman. 'Max is the prison Karen,' an insider told in 2023. 'She can file a grievance over anything. 'She complains about the food, the bedding, when they cancel temple because of bad weather or are late setting up her legal calls. 'The latest battle is over hair dye. Maxwell has gray showing through and she's filed a grievance because they don't sell it anymore. Maxwell's beefs with authorities began when she first landed at the fearsome Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, while awaiting trial. Her attorneys accused jail authorities of breaching her rights by shining a torch in her cell every 15 minutes, subjecting her to invasive searches and filming her at all hours. When she got to Tallahassee after her conviction 'she immediately wrote Brooklyn up for taking too long to ship her belongings,' said the prison source. 'Then when her shoes arrived, she refused to hand her temporary slip-ons back to the laundry lady. 'That caused a big argument and Max complained that she felt threatened and refused to go back to the laundry unaccompanied. 'That's her in a nutshell. Every aspect of prison life offers an opportunity for her to play the victim. She creates constant drama for staff and inmates.'
