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Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
How grand jury testimony gets unsealed
President Trump, facing intense scrutiny from his base this week, directed Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday to release 'pertinent grand jury testimony' from the case involving convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. 'Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval,' the president wrote in a post on his Truth Social website Thursday night. 'This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!' Bondi quickly confirmed online she would follow Trump's directive. It's not the first time high-profile Republican figures have sought to unseal documents in the Epstein case. It's unclear what exactly Bondi will ask for, whether judges will be responsive to Bondi's request, or whether the effort will be enough to subdue critics in the MAGA-verse. Here's what to know about the Trump administration's latest move on the Epstein files. What is the process for unsealing grand jury testimony? Grand jury transcripts, including ones related to the Epstein case, are typically confidential under law, but courts can decide to release them when public interest outweighs the legal protections they provide for informants, witnesses and people accused of crimes. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a law in February 2024 to unseal grand jury documents from Epstein's state case, which helped remove legal barriers. Joseph Abruzzo, the Democratic clerk of the circuit court and comptroller of Palm Beach County, released the records in July of that year. Epstein previously reached a 'non-prosecutorial agreement' in a prostitution case in the South District of Florida in 2007 and served a year behind bars after a federal grand jury investigation. A decision to unseal the records in Epstein's federal case is subject to the approval of a federal judge in the Southern District of New York, where Epstein was charged before he died by suicide in 2019. The Department of Justice didn't immediately respond to The Hill's request seeking additional information about how Bondi plans to pursue the release of additional documents, or what records she would request. What is a grand jury? A grand jury, which comprises citizens appointed at random from voter rolls, hears a prosecutor's case before deciding whether there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime Epstein was indicted by a grand jury on sex trafficking charges in 2019 but died before his case was heard. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's associate and girlfriend, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty in 2022 of helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. She remains the only person convicted in his sex trafficking schemes. Maxwell's case was chiefly handled by the U.S. Southern District of New York. Grand jury testimony from Maxwell's case has been kept under seal, though multiple women testified in open court about her efforts to lure them into Epstein's sex predator scheme when they were youths. The Fifth Amendment requires that all federal cases be heard by a grand jury, but grand juries aren't mandated in some state cases. The grand juries do not determine guilt or innocence. In most cases, they don't hear defense arguments or evidence against charges. What testimony does a grand jury hear? Evidence presented to a grand jury doesn't face the same legal restrictions as information released in open court. It can include details from confidential informants, relayed via law enforcement; information from witnesses whose identities are to be protected for their safety; and other evidence obtained through clandestine law enforcement methods before the defense has an opportunity to refute them. Alan Dershowitz, who helped get a plea deal for Epstein in 2008, has said that there's no Epstein 'client list,' but has said individuals accused of wrongdoing are named in the redacted FBI affidavit from accusers. 'Now, of course, because I was lawyer and I did all the investigations, I know who all these people are,' Dershowitz said earlier this week in an appearance on NewsNation's 'Cuomo.' He claimed no one named in the affidavit currently holds public office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
The Hill
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
How grand jury testimony gets unsealed
President Trump, facing intense scrutiny from his base this week, directed Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday to release 'pertinent grand jury testimony' from the case involving convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. 'Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval,' the president wrote in a post on his Truth Social website Thursday night. 'This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!' Bondi quickly confirmed online that she would follow Trump's directive. It's not the first time high-profile Republican figures have sought to unseal documents in the Epstein case. It's unclear what exactly Bondi will ask for, whether judges will be responsive to Bondi's request, or whether the effort will be enough to subdue critics in the MAGA-verse. Here's what to know about the Trump administration's latest move on the Epstein files. What is the process for unsealing grand jury testimony Grand jury transcripts, including ones related to the Epstein case, are typically confidential under law, but courts can decide to release them when public interest outweighs the legal protections they provide for informants, witnesses and people accused of crimes. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a law in February 2024 to unseal grand jury documents from Epstein's state case, which helped remove legal barriers. Joseph Abruzzo, the Democratic clerk of the circuit court and comptroller of Palm Beach County, released the records in July of that year. Epstein previously reached a 'non-prosecutorial agreement' in a prostitution case in the South District of Florida in 2007 and served a year behind bars after a federal grand jury investigation. A decision to unseal the records in Epstein's federal case is subject to the approval of a federal judge in the Southern District of New York, where Epstein was charged before he died by suicide in 2019. The Department of Justice didn't immediately respond to The Hill's request seeking additional information about how Bondi plans to pursue the release of additional documents, or what records she would request. What is a grand jury A grand jury, which is made up of citizens appointed at random from voter rolls, hears a prosecutor's case before deciding whether there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime Epstein was indicted by a grand jury on sex trafficking charges in 2019 but died before his case was heard. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's associate and girlfriend, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty in 2022 of helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. She remains the only person convicted in his sex trafficking schemes. Maxwell's case was chiefly handled by the U.S. Southern District of New York. Grand jury testimony from Maxwell's case has been kept under seal, though multiple women testified in open court about her efforts to lure them into Epstein's sex predator scheme when they were youths. The Fifth Amendment requires that all federal cases be heard by a grand jury, but grand juries aren't mandated in some state cases. The grand juries do not determine guilt or innocence. In most cases, they don't hear defense arguments or evidence against charges. What testimony does a grand jury hear Evidence presented to a grand jury doesn't face the same legal restrictions as information released in open court. It can include details from confidential informants, relayed via law enforcement; information from witnesses whose identities are to be protected for their safety; and other evidence obtained through clandestine law enforcement methods before the defense has an opportunity to refute them. Alan Dershowitz, who helped get a plea deal for Epstein in 2008, has said that there's no Epstein 'client list,' but has said individuals accused of wrongdoing are named in the redacted FBI affidavit from accusers. 'Now, of course, because I was lawyer and I did all the investigations, I know who all these people are,' Dershowitz said earlier this week in an appearance on NewsNation's 'Cuomo.' He claimed no one named in the affidavit currently holds public office.
The Hill
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Raskin notes ‘bipartisan urgency' for DOJ to release all Epstein files
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said Thursday that he thought the Trump administration would have to turn over all the 'Epstein files' due to what he characterized as significant bipartisan support for their release. 'We need total disclosure of the complete file, redacting only the names and the identities of the minor victims,' the Maryland Democrat said during an appearance on MSNBC. 'There is overwhelming bipartisan, popular demand, Congressional demand, to release all of this stuff.' Without control of the chamber, House Democrats are unable to do much on their own to force the release of any evidence held by the federal government. However, a resolution spearheaded by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) to force a House vote on the matter has garnered bipartisan support from figures as wide-ranging as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.). Raskin is not an official co-sponsor on the resolution. The Maryland lawmaker, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, instead said Tuesday that Bondi and other top administration officials should testify about Epstein, and floated the possibility of a subpoena. 'I think the cat is out of the bag and they're going to have to turn everything over to us,' Raskin said on MSNBC Thursday. Many Democrats have seized on the controversy roiling the MAGA-verse to demand that the Trump administration release documents related to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender. 'In other words, we're asking for exactly what Donald Trump was demanding and exactly what Pam Bondi was demanding before they got into power and got to look at everything,' Raskin said.
Buzz Feed
5 days ago
- Politics
- Buzz Feed
Jon Stewart Gives MAGA A Wake-Up Call After Donald Trump Reverses Stance On Epstein Files
Daily Show host Jon Stewart on Monday tore into President Donald Trump for backtracking on the release of files related to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump is demanding that people stop talking about Epstein, causing some of the president's most loyal supporters to turn on him. 'Surprisingly, MAGA world, for the first time in memory, isn't just slavishly acquiescing to Trump's reality distortion field,' he said, and played clips of figures on the right trashing the president after the Justice Department said last week that the long-rumored Epstein client list doesn't exist. Stewart said MAGA world is 'in open revolt,' with some even burning their infamous red hats. 'MAGA is losing their shit right now,' he said. 'They cannot believe what they're seeing. Trump is lying? Dismissing reasonable concerns as bad-faith whining? Attacking anyone who disagrees?' He offered a message directly to the MAGA-verse. 'As a resident of blue America, can I just say right now to my red colleagues that my pronouns are 'how does' and 'my ass taste,'' he said. 'The Trump that you're just experiencing now, to your deep disappointment and dismay, is the dude we've been dealing with the whole fucking time. You just didn't realize it 'cause he's been nice to you.' As an example, he showed how Trump treats disasters in red states very differently from those in blue ones, offering quick assistance in Texas after last week's deadly floods, but threatening to withhold aid in California during the fires earlier this year. 'Whatever you need, Daddy's here ― because you're the child he wanted,' Stewart told the red states. But the blue ones? 'We're Eric,' he said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dan Bongino Backs Down in Bitter Epstein MAGA Civil War
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is back at work as President Donald Trump tries to stave off an ongoing MAGA revolt over the infamous 'Epstein files.' Bongino failed to show up to work on Friday and threatened to resign after clashing with Attorney General Pam Bondi in the White House over her handling of the case. Now, Bongino has reportedly returned to the bureau—but his long-term future in the Trump administration remains uncertain. Administration insiders say the president is privately fuming that the man he handpicked to be second in charge at the FBI had set off a MAGA firestorm last week, which forced the president to launch a full-throated defense of Bondi as his top allies attempted to mediate. 'What's going on with my 'boys' and, in some cases, 'gals?' They're all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!' Trump wrote Saturday as some of his most ardent supporters demanded Bondi be fired. 'We're on one Team, MAGA, and I don't like what's happening. We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and 'selfish people' are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein,' he added. The MAGA-verse has been calling for Bondi head after a July 6 memo from the Justice Department and FBI found that Epstein kept no 'client list' and that he likely died by suicide, rather than being murdered, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019—the subject of whirling conspiracy theories among the president's supporters. Bondi had said in February that the client list was 'sitting on my desk' awaiting review. The clash between Bondi and Bongino stemmed from the deputy director's frustration that Bondi had overpromised but underdelivered on Epstein. But things escalated in the White House last week when Bongino was reportedly confronted about the leaking of an article suggesting he and FBI Director Kash Patel actually wanted more information released on Epstein, but were held back. Bongino denied being the source of the information. By Monday morning, after not turning up to work on Friday, it was unclear whether Bongino would return as the former podcaster considered his future if Bondi remains. However, a few hours later, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN that he did show up. Trump has said very little about Bongino as he tries to downplay the outrage within his base over the Epstein saga. On Sunday, in an apparent sign of his support for Bondi, the Attorney General was one of several cabinet members sitting near Trump and his wife in a luxury box at a FIFA game in New Jersey. House Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters on Monday that 'this was a conspiracy that Donald Trump, Pam Bondi, and these MAGA extremists have been fanning the flames of for the last several years, and now the chickens are coming home to roost.' In a bid to mitigate tensions and provide Trump's base with the answers they are seeking, some are now calling on the president to appoint a special counsel to investigate the matter and release a full report to the public. Conservative warriors such as Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk have touted former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, whom Trump had originally nominated to be attorney general, as the preferred candidate. But this would be a highly controversial choice given that a congressional ethics committee report released last year found he regularly paid women for sex; had sex with a 17-year-old; broke Florida's statutory rape laws; and frequently used illegal drugs. As MAGA acolytes demand answers, Jeffries signaled Monday that he may support congressional action to force the Trump administration's hand on releasing Epstein documents. 'The American people deserve to know the truth,' Jeffries said. 'If [the administration is] trying to hide something, as many of Donald Trump's MAGA supporters apparently believe, then the Congress should actually work hard to try to uncover the truth for the American people.'
