Latest news with #GregKelly
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Newsmax star defends Alex Acosta's sweetheart plea deal for Epstein — but ignores the network's conflict of interest
Newsmax may have its own Jeffrey Epstein problem. Over the course of the past week, its MAGA-boosting host Greg Kelly has repeatedly gone to bat for Alex Acosta, the former federal prosecutor who negotiated the secret so-called 'sweetheart' plea deal with Epstein in 2008 the Justice Department later said was made in 'poor judgment.' Throughout multiple primetime segments, Kelly has described Acosta – who resigned as President Donald Trump's Labor Secretary in 2019 amid renewed scrutiny of the Epstein plea agreement – as a 'nice guy' and 'great individual' who was only targeted by liberals to 'embarrass' Trump by 'rebooting' the Epstein story. Kelly on Monday night suggested Epstein's accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell didn't deserve her lengthy prison sentence while claiming Acosta was the victim of 'fake news' because 'it wasn't a sweetheart deal' he handed Epstein. Left unsaid in Kelly's efforts to rehabilitate Acosta's reputation, amid the current uproar over the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein case, is that the former secretary now sits on the board of directors for Newsmax. In a press release last month that was flagged by Media Matters, the MAGA network announced Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky had been appointed to the company's board, and joined Acosta, who had joined as a board member following the closing of the network's initial public offering in March. 'We are delighted to officially welcome Secretary Acosta and announce the addition of Ambassador Dobriansky to our Board of Directors,' Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy said at the time. 'Their exceptional backgrounds in public service, regulatory policy and international affairs will provide valuable perspectives as we continue to execute our growth strategy and deliver trusted news to the American people and countries around the world.' Besides noting Acosta's time as Secretary of Labor during the first Trump administration, the network's press release also highlighted his time as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, which is where he struck the controversial plea deal with Epstein. Under the 2008 non-prosecution agreement – also known as an NPA – Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges in Florida of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution. That allowed him to avert a possible life sentence, instead serving 13 months in a work-release program. He was required to make payments to victims and register as a sex offender. A Newsmax spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on Kelly's lack of disclosure about Acosta's role with the company. Following the DOJ's two-page July 6 memo concluding that Epstein died by suicide and didn't keep a 'client list' to blackmail prominent figures, the administration has faced a MAGA uproar and continuing calls for the full release of the so-called Epstein files. This has also resulted in a divide within right-wing media on how to best cover the ongoing fallout. After the president began ordering his 'boys' and 'gals' to stop focusing on the late sex predator because the Epstein case was a 'hoax,' Fox News pulled back on its coverage. Newsmax then poked fun at what it called the 'terrified' network for not wanting to 'p*ss off' Trump while claiming the Murdoch-owned channel has 'been essentially mandated not to talk about' Epstein. As the network's hosts have mocked Fox for appearing to ignore the Epstein affair, especially now the president is suing Rupert Murdoch over the Wall Street Journal's bombshell report claiming Trump wrote a 'bawdy' birthday card for Epstein, Kelly has crafted his own counter-narrative to downplay the dead sex offender's crimes. And this has resulted in the pro-Trump anchor running a defense for the network's board member. Trump has strongly denied he ever wrote or drew anything for the Epstein card. After spending the first few days of the current Epstein saga pondering whether 'Epstein is a patriot' and if this was the reason Acosta negotiated a non-prosecution agreement that saw the financier serve just 13 months in jail while shutting down an FBI probe into more potential sex crimes, Kelly began suggesting Acosta was unfairly maligned. Kelly has claimed Julie K. Brown, the Miami Herald reporter whose deep-dive investigation into Epstein in 2018 and the 'deal of a lifetime' he received from Acosta brought renewed interest in the case, 'rebooted' the story in an effort to take down Trump. 'The Epstein story was rebooted because they wanted to embarrass the Labor Secretary,' he stated last Monday. 'You remember it was anything, anything you could get on Trump.' After saying that Epstein was 'not the only one who got a sweetheart deal,' Kelly would later move the goalposts and declare that the light sentence the convicted sex offender received actually wasn't abnormal at all. 'Alex Acosta was gone; he had to resign because that was the game the Deep State was playing,' Kelly bemoaned on Wednesday before adding: 'President Trump won't let that happen again and it's kind of awesome to see!' During a lengthy segment on Monday evening, Kelly spun an intricate tale that not only saw Acosta as a full-fledged victim but also suggested both Maxwell and Epstein were essentially railroaded. 'Well, that's horrible and wrong and disgusting, but also happened a very long time ago. 2002 to 2005. This is in 2019 when he was arrested,' Kelly said, describing the DOJ's 2019 charges against Epstein. 'And if anybody actually looks at the indictment, it's suspiciously a long time ago.' Saying it's 'not the case' that Epstein was 'running a sex operation', Kelly then said about Maxwell's 20-year prison sentence: 'Maybe she deserves it. Maybe she doesn't.' He then turned back towards Acosta's role in the plea bargain and argued that he acted appropriately. 'There had to be a Trump angle. Acosta was appointed Labor Secretary by President Trump. He was in a courtroom in 2008 with Epstein,' he proclaimed. 'I already went through it. It wasn't a sweetheart deal, not compared to similar sex crimes.' Kelly also insisted that Acosta didn't resign 'in disgrace,' asserting that Trump knew his departing secretary 'was getting screwed' and that he liked that the president 'showed up' for Acosta. At the time of his resignation, Acosta defended his work as the federal prosecutor in Florida's southern district, saying in his 'heart we were trying to do the right thing for these victims' and that 'we believe that we proceeded appropriately.' In a televised appearance alongside Acosta, Trump stated that the secretary had called him and offered to resign, claiming the controversy had become a distraction for the administration. 'He made a deal [with Epstein] that people are happy with, and then 12 years later, they are not happy with it. You'll have to figure all of that out,' Trump declared, calling him a 'fantastic secretary of labor.' One network staffer told The Independent that it wasn't shocking to see the lengths that Kelly would go to rehabilitate the image of the former Trump administration official and current Newsmax board member. 'After all, this is now the Trump network,' the staffer snarked, referencing the recent announcement that Newsmax had partnered with Trump Media & Technology Group to launch a TV streaming platform. 'Some people are very upset about partnering with Trump,' another Newsmax insider noted. 'Even the most conservative people at Newsmax think it's a terrible look and they feel like state-run media.'
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Major broadcaster is slammed for calling Ghislaine Maxwell a VICTIM
Newsmax Anchor Greg Kelly has been ridiculed after saying he believes Ghislaine Maxwell 'might be a victim'. Speaking on Greg Kelly Reports the longtime Trump loyalist portrayed Maxwell as a sympathetic figure, w hile discussing the crisis around the Jeffrey Epstein files, despite her conviction on child sex trafficking and exploitation. Kelly was talking about Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche two-day meeting with Maxwell to discuss the case. '[Maxwell] has also been subpoenaed by the oversight committee, I think this is great. I do have a feeling that she just might be a victim, she just might be,' Kelly said. 'There was a rush to judgement there was a lot of chaos there for a while, granted she hung out with Jeffrey Epstein, and I know that's apparently not good.' Maxwell is serving 20 years behind bars on child sex trafficking charges for her role in helping Epstein exploit and abuse multiple minors over the course of a decade. Epstein's victims alleged they were procured by Maxwell and passed around his billionaire friends and associates who regularly visited his homes, which included his private island. He was found dead in his cell from an apparent suicide while awaiting trial. Kelly's remarks have been circulated on social media where they were roundly slammed. Ghislaine Maxwell is serving 20 years behind bars on child sex trafficking charges for her role in helping Epstein procure victims One person commented: 'Just when you don't think they can be more depraved then they prove you wrong.' Maxwell reached out to the Department of Justice to set up the meetings with Blanche, ABC News reported. She apparently requested what's known as 'proffer immunity' so that anything she revealed couldn't be used against her at a later date. It is provided to people under investigation or facing charges to determine the value of a possible witness. Maxwell has already been tried and convicted. Maxwell's lawyer David Oscar Markus said after her questioning: 'There have been no asks and no promises.' Many believe Maxwell appears to be angling for a pardon from President Donald Trump after she 'didn't hold back' during questioning. She completed a second day of interviews with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on Friday afternoon. Markus claimed that his client spoke with Blanche about '100 different people' in relation to Epstein's alleged child sex trafficking ring. He also said Maxwell is being used as the 'scapegoat' in the entire Epstein case and has been 'treated unfairly for the past five years '. Her attorney said that they had not put in a formal request with the White House for a pardon for Maxwell after the conclusion of the second day of questioning. But Markus did not rule out taking that action in the future, saying 'things are happening so quickly.' 'The president said earlier he has the power to do so, we hope he exercises that power in the right way,' he said of a potential commutation. Trump refused to rule out invoking his presidential pardon powers for Maxwell saying: 'I'm allowed to do it, but it's something I haven't thought about.' CNN's Maggie Haberman appeared on Friday night's The Source with Kaitlan Collins stating that if Trump did so, he would 'infuriate the MAGA base'.
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The Independent
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Newsmax star defends Alex Acosta's sweetheart plea deal for Epstein — but ignores the network's conflict of interest
Newsmax may have its own Jeffrey Epstein problem. Over the course of the past week, its MAGA-boosting host Greg Kelly has repeatedly gone to bat for Alex Acosta, the former federal prosecutor who negotiated the secret so-called 'sweetheart' plea deal with Epstein in 2008 the Justice Department later said was made in 'poor judgment.' Throughout multiple primetime segments, Kelly has described Acosta – who resigned as President Donald Trump's Labor Secretary in 2019 amid renewed scrutiny of the Epstein plea agreement – as a 'nice guy' and 'great individual' who was only targeted by liberals to 'embarrass' Trump by 'rebooting' the Epstein story. Kelly on Monday night suggested Epstein's accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell didn't deserve her lengthy prison sentence while claiming Acosta was the victim of 'fake news' because 'it wasn't a sweetheart deal' he handed Epstein. Left unsaid in Kelly's efforts to rehabilitate Acosta's reputation, amid the current uproar over the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein case, is that the former secretary now sits on the board of directors for Newsmax. In a press release last month that was flagged by Media Matters, the MAGA network announced Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky had been appointed to the company's board, and joined Acosta, who had joined as a board member following the closing of the network's initial public offering in March. 'We are delighted to officially welcome Secretary Acosta and announce the addition of Ambassador Dobriansky to our Board of Directors,' Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy said at the time. 'Their exceptional backgrounds in public service, regulatory policy and international affairs will provide valuable perspectives as we continue to execute our growth strategy and deliver trusted news to the American people and countries around the world.' Besides noting Acosta's time as Secretary of Labor during the first Trump administration, the network's press release also highlighted his time as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, which is where he struck the controversial plea deal with Epstein. Under the 2008 non-prosecution agreement – also known as an NPA – Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges in Florida of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution. That allowed him to avert a possible life sentence, instead serving 13 months in a work-release program. He was required to make payments to victims and register as a sex offender. A Newsmax spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on Kelly's lack of disclosure about Acosta's role with the company. Following the DOJ's two-page July 6 memo concluding that Epstein died by suicide and didn't keep a 'client list' to blackmail prominent figures, the administration has faced a MAGA uproar and continuing calls for the full release of the so-called Epstein files. This has also resulted in a divide within right-wing media on how to best cover the ongoing fallout. After the president began ordering his 'boys' and 'gals' to stop focusing on the late sex predator because the Epstein case was a 'hoax,' Fox News pulled back on its coverage. Newsmax then poked fun at what it called the 'terrified' network for not wanting to 'p*ss off' Trump while claiming the Murdoch-owned channel has 'been essentially mandated not to talk about' Epstein. As the network's hosts have mocked Fox for appearing to ignore the Epstein affair, especially now the president is suing Rupert Murdoch over the Wall Street Journal's bombshell report claiming Trump wrote a 'bawdy' birthday card for Epstein, Kelly has crafted his own counter-narrative to downplay the dead sex offender's crimes. And this has resulted in the pro-Trump anchor running a defense for the network's board member. Trump has strongly denied he ever wrote or drew anything for the Epstein card. After spending the first few days of the current Epstein saga pondering whether ' Epstein is a patriot' and if this was the reason Acosta negotiated a non-prosecution agreement that saw the financier serve just 13 months in jail while shutting down an FBI probe into more potential sex crimes, Kelly began suggesting Acosta was unfairly maligned. Kelly has claimed Julie K. Brown, the Miami Herald reporter whose deep-dive investigation into Epstein in 2018 and the 'deal of a lifetime' he received from Acosta brought renewed interest in the case, 'rebooted' the story in an effort to take down Trump. 'The Epstein story was rebooted because they wanted to embarrass the Labor Secretary,' he stated last Monday. 'You remember it was anything, anything you could get on Trump.' After saying that Epstein was 'not the only one who got a sweetheart deal,' Kelly would later move the goalposts and declare that the light sentence the convicted sex offender received actually wasn't abnormal at all. 'Alex Acosta was gone; he had to resign because that was the game the Deep State was playing,' Kelly bemoaned on Wednesday before adding: 'President Trump won't let that happen again and it's kind of awesome to see!' During a lengthy segment on Monday evening, Kelly spun an intricate tale that not only saw Acosta as a full-fledged victim but also suggested both Maxwell and Epstein were essentially railroaded. 'Well, that's horrible and wrong and disgusting, but also happened a very long time ago. 2002 to 2005. This is in 2019 when he was arrested,' Kelly said, describing the DOJ's 2019 charges against Epstein. 'And if anybody actually looks at the indictment, it's suspiciously a long time ago.' Saying it's 'not the case' that Epstein was 'running a sex operation', Kelly then said about Maxwell's 20-year prison sentence: 'Maybe she deserves it. Maybe she doesn't.' He then turned back towards Acosta's role in the plea bargain and argued that he acted appropriately. 'There had to be a Trump angle. Acosta was appointed Labor Secretary by President Trump. He was in a courtroom in 2008 with Epstein,' he proclaimed. 'I already went through it. It wasn't a sweetheart deal, not compared to similar sex crimes.' Kelly also insisted that Acosta didn't resign 'in disgrace,' asserting that Trump knew his departing secretary 'was getting screwed' and that he liked that the president 'showed up' for Acosta. At the time of his resignation, Acosta defended his work as the federal prosecutor in Florida's southern district, saying in his 'heart we were trying to do the right thing for these victims' and that 'we believe that we proceeded appropriately.' In a televised appearance alongside Acosta, Trump stated that the secretary had called him and offered to resign, claiming the controversy had become a distraction for the administration. 'He made a deal [with Epstein] that people are happy with, and then 12 years later, they are not happy with it. You'll have to figure all of that out,' Trump declared, calling him a 'fantastic secretary of labor.' One network staffer told The Independent that it wasn't shocking to see the lengths that Kelly would go to rehabilitate the image of the former Trump administration official and current Newsmax board member. 'After all, this is now the Trump network,' the staffer snarked, referencing the recent announcement that Newsmax had partnered with Trump Media & Technology Group to launch a TV streaming platform. 'Some people are very upset about partnering with Trump,' another Newsmax insider noted. 'Even the most conservative people at Newsmax think it's a terrible look and they feel like state-run media.'
Associated Press
01-06-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Kelly Buick GMC receives 25 Year Dealer Award for GMC
LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., June 1, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Kelly Auto Group is proud to announce that they recently received the 25-Year Dealer Award for GMC for their Buick/GMC dealership in Emmaus. Kelly has had the Buick franchise since 1982 and added GMC in 2000. 'We have been honored to be the premier Buick dealer in the Greater Lehigh Valley for over 40 years, and we were thrilled to add GMC 25 years ago,' said Greg Kelly, the President of the Kelly Auto Group. 'That successful longevity comes from the dedication of our team members to deliver an outstanding experience selling and servicing these exceptional vehicles.' As the Kelly Auto Group continues to grow, these awards serve as a powerful reminder of the company's mission: to deliver exceptional automotive experiences, driven by integrity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. For more information about Kelly Auto Group and its award-winning dealerships, visit: MULTIMEDIA: PHOTO LINK for media: Photo Caption: Kelly Buick GMC Receives 25 Year Dealer Award for GMC. NEWS SOURCE: Kelly Auto Group Keywords: Auto Dealer News, Buick GMC dealership in Emmaus PA, Kelly Auto Group, 25-Year Dealer Award for GMC, LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Kelly Auto Group) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P126641 APNF0325A To view the original version, visit: © 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
Associated Press
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Kelly Auto Group Celebrates Top Dealer Awards for Nissan, Toyota, and Hyundai Dealerships
LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., May 27, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Kelly Auto Group is proud to announce that Kelly Nissan, Kelly Toyota, and Kelly Hyundai of Hamburg have each earned the Top Dealer Award by their respective manufacturers. This prestigious recognition highlights the dedication, performance, and unwavering passion that each store brings to their brand, their customers, and the greater automotive industry. Winning the Dealer Top award is no small feat—it reflects excellence in customer satisfaction, operational performance, and community engagement. Kelly Auto Group is honored to see not one, but three of its dealerships celebrated at this elite level. 'We are beyond proud of what the teams at Kelly Nissan, Kelly Toyota, and Kelly Hyundai of Hamburg have accomplished,' said Greg Kelly, the President of the Kelly Auto Group. 'These rewards are a result of the dedication and passion for performance of the dealership leaders and every member of their teams. You need to sell cars in volume to qualify, but what gets me most excited is that, in order to win, you have to satisfy and retain customers at a high level.' As the Kelly Auto Group continues to grow, these awards serve as a powerful reminder of the company's mission: to deliver exceptional automotive experiences, driven by integrity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. For more information about Kelly Auto Group and its award-winning dealerships, visit MULTIMEDIA: Image link for media: Image caption: Kelly Auto Group. ### UPDATED 12:53 p.m. PDT to correct logo image/file. NEWS SOURCE: Kelly Automotive Group Keywords: Auto Dealer News, Kelly Auto Group, Top Dealer Award, automotive, Nissan, Hyundai, Toyota, new and used cars, LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Kelly Automotive Group) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P126485 APNF0325A To view the original version, visit: © 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
