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Axios
4 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
These MAGA voices want you to know they are done talking about Epstein
After President Trump urged a rattled MAGA base to not "waste [t]ime" on the Jeffrey Epstein case, some are softening their tones. But others still have their teeth sunk in the storyline. The big picture: Trump-world influencers and the president's base were blindsided by the Justice Department and FBI's conclusions that the disgraced financier did not have a "client list" and died by suicide, sparking an avalanche of anger — with Attorney General Pam Bondi as their top target. Trump has tried to stifle the outrage, writing in a lengthy Truth Social post Saturday, "selfish people" are trying to hurt the administration, "all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein," who he described as "somebody that nobody cares about." Many key voices on the right certainly do still care about Epstein and aren't buying the administration's dismissal. But some seem to be backing away from the current discontent. Driving the news: Conservative activist Charlie Kirk said on his show on Monday that he's "done talking about Epstein for the time being." He continued, saying he'd "trust" his "friends in the government to do what needs to be done, solve it, ball's in their hands." Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, noted he'd said "plenty this last weekend." At TPUSA's Student Action Summit over the weekend, attendees expressed deep skepticism over the administration's rollout of information about the convicted sex trafficker, Axios' Tal Axelrod reported. In a post on X, Kirk added, "I discussed how the communication and transparency could be much improved, how the base wasn't going to just move on, and provided options for ways forward. Now, I'm giving them space to operate." CNN reported that Trump spoke with Kirk over the weekend. Zoom out: Dinesh D'Souza, noting that while unanswered questions remain, said on his Monday podcast episode that it's "time to move on." "I think that right now it seems pretty clear we're not gonna get more information out of the government," he said. "They have closed the case. Unless Ghislaine Maxwell, who's in prison, speaks out and she's free to speak out." Yes, but: Kirk has since reposted and shared several posts insinuating there will be more disclosures or transparency from the administration. He shared a clip from a conversation between Lara Trump and influencer Benny Johnson in which the president's daughter-in-law says she believes there will "probably be more coming on this." "As I said today on the show, next steps are forthcoming," Kirk wrote. The divide also threatens to spill over into Capitol Hill, Axios' Andrew Solender and Kate Santaliz report, where House Democrats have seized on the friction and attempted to force a vote on making Bondi release all records related to Epstein. While some GOP members are echoing the scrutiny shared online over the rollout, others have flocked to the AG's defense and don't seem to want to touch the issue dividing the MAGA base. What they're saying: Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) characterized the Epstein conversation as "nonsense" on "CNN News Central" Monday. Pressed by CNN's John Berman on what the "nonsense" was, Lawler replied, "Frankly, the fact that you're even covering this ... I don't even understand frankly ... why we're spending a lot of time on Jeffrey Epstein." What we're watching: There are possible routes the White House may take to mitigate the damage, Axios' Marc Caputo reported.


Economic Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Munir's two-card trick: How Pakistan's crypto pitch and Nobel flattery won Trump's favour
General Asim Munir strategically engaged with Donald Trump, securing a White House lunch and praise for Pakistan's restraint with India. Munir's charm offensive included a crypto initiative involving Trump's sons, aiming to position Pakistan as a crypto hub. This move subtly sidelined Pakistan's civilian leadership and publicly snubbed India's rejection of US mediation. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads In a deft diplomatic manoeuvre that cost Pakistan little but delivered big returns, Army Chief General Asim Munir has successfully reinserted Islamabad into Washington's strategic radar, by flattering US President Donald Trump and feeding his long-standing craving for the Nobel Peace result: a private lunch at the White House between Munir and Trump, public praise for Pakistan's restraint following a recent military flare-up with India, and a notable snub to both Pakistan's civilian leadership and New Delhi.'The reason I had him here was I wanted to thank him for not going into the war (with India) and ending it,' Trump said after hosting Munir. 'I was honored to meet him today.' Trump also gave credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, 'Two very smart people decided not to keep going with the war. Those are two big nuclear powers.'But with India having publicly rejected a US role in de-escalating tensions, it was Munir who ended up with the spotlight. The White House itself disclosed that the real reason for the lunch invitation was Munir's push for Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for helping dial down tensions between India and flattery struck a chord with Trump, who has repeatedly complained that he has been unfairly denied the honour. 'They gave one to Obama immediately upon his ascent to the presidency, and he had no idea why he got it. You know what? I got us out of wars. I made deals that nobody thought were possible,' Trump has often Munir's charm offensive didn't stop with the Nobel. In April, he laid the groundwork with a crypto initiative that tapped into Trump-world business interests. A US-based cryptocurrency firm, World Liberty Financial (WLF), signed a Letter of Intent with the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), giving WLF the right to spearhead blockchain integration across Pakistani financial institutions. The partnership also aimed to explore asset tokenization, stablecoins, and DeFi pilot projects, part of a broader plan to position Pakistan as 'the crypto capital of South Asia.'What made the deal particularly intriguing in Washington circles was WLF's ownership: Trump's sons Eric and Donald Jr., along with son-in-law Jared Kushner, collectively hold a 60% stake in the company. The delegation to Islamabad was led by Zachary Witkoff, whose father Steve Witkoff, a long-time Trump associate, currently serves as the US Special Envoy to the Middle Munir personally welcomed the group and later held a closed-door meeting with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which helped seal the high-level access in Washington. The White House lunch, though private, was kept secret for weeks to avoid backlash from Pakistani expats loyal to former PM Imran Khan, who remains in custody under the military's watch.


Time of India
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Munir's two-card trick: How Pakistan's crypto pitch and Nobel flattery won Trump's favour
General Asim Munir strategically engaged with Donald Trump, securing a White House lunch and praise for Pakistan's restraint with India. Munir's charm offensive included a crypto initiative involving Trump's sons, aiming to position Pakistan as a crypto hub. This move subtly sidelined Pakistan's civilian leadership and publicly snubbed India's rejection of US mediation. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads In a deft diplomatic manoeuvre that cost Pakistan little but delivered big returns, Army Chief General Asim Munir has successfully reinserted Islamabad into Washington's strategic radar, by flattering US President Donald Trump and feeding his long-standing craving for the Nobel Peace result: a private lunch at the White House between Munir and Trump, public praise for Pakistan's restraint following a recent military flare-up with India, and a notable snub to both Pakistan's civilian leadership and New Delhi.'The reason I had him here was I wanted to thank him for not going into the war (with India) and ending it,' Trump said after hosting Munir. 'I was honored to meet him today.' Trump also gave credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, 'Two very smart people decided not to keep going with the war. Those are two big nuclear powers.'But with India having publicly rejected a US role in de-escalating tensions, it was Munir who ended up with the spotlight. The White House itself disclosed that the real reason for the lunch invitation was Munir's push for Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for helping dial down tensions between India and flattery struck a chord with Trump, who has repeatedly complained that he has been unfairly denied the honour. 'They gave one to Obama immediately upon his ascent to the presidency, and he had no idea why he got it. You know what? I got us out of wars. I made deals that nobody thought were possible,' Trump has often Munir's charm offensive didn't stop with the Nobel. In April, he laid the groundwork with a crypto initiative that tapped into Trump-world business interests. A US-based cryptocurrency firm, World Liberty Financial (WLF), signed a Letter of Intent with the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), giving WLF the right to spearhead blockchain integration across Pakistani financial institutions. The partnership also aimed to explore asset tokenization, stablecoins, and DeFi pilot projects, part of a broader plan to position Pakistan as 'the crypto capital of South Asia.'What made the deal particularly intriguing in Washington circles was WLF's ownership: Trump's sons Eric and Donald Jr., along with son-in-law Jared Kushner, collectively hold a 60% stake in the company. The delegation to Islamabad was led by Zachary Witkoff, whose father Steve Witkoff, a long-time Trump associate, currently serves as the US Special Envoy to the Middle Munir personally welcomed the group and later held a closed-door meeting with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which helped seal the high-level access in Washington. The White House lunch, though private, was kept secret for weeks to avoid backlash from Pakistani expats loyal to former PM Imran Khan, who remains in custody under the military's watch.


Axios
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
ABC suspends correspondent for calling Stephen Miller a "world-class hater"
ABC News Senior National Correspondent Terry Moran was suspended after he characterized top Trump aide Stephen Miller as "richly endowed with the capacity for hatred" in a since-deleted post, the network confirmed to Axios Sunday. The big picture: The incident is ammunition for the administration's attacks on and distrust of traditional media. The Trump administration has squeezed legacy media from several angles in its first few months, prompting legal battles over funding and First Amendment rights. Driving the news: An ABC News spokesperson confirmed in a statement to Axios that Moran " has been suspended pending further evaluation." "ABC News stands for objectivity and impartiality in its news coverage and does not condone subjective personal attacks on others. The post does not reflect the views of ABC News and violated our standards," the statement read. Catch up quick: Moran, who in April conducted an at-times testy interview with President Trump marking his first 100 days in office, shared a post to X shortly overnight Saturday calling both Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff, and the president "world-class" haters. "The thing about Stephen Miller is not that he is the brains behind Trumpism," Moran's post started, according to a screenshot. He continued, saying that Miller's ability to translate Trump-world impulses into policy is not "what's interesting." "It's not brains. It's bile," he said. "Miller is a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred. He's a world-class hater." Moran contended Miller's "hatreds are his spiritual nourishment." What he's saying: Miller, responding to Moran's post, argued that "[f]or decades, the privileged anchors and reporters narrating and gatekeeping our society have been radicals adopting a journalist's pose." Miller has been a driving force behind the president's controversial immigration crackdown and is one of his most-trusted aides. Zoom out: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described Moran's rhetoric as "unacceptable and unhinged" on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures," saying ABC confirmed it would be taking action.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Victims' lawsuits show FBI and DOJ's focus on Epstein files misses the mark
On Thursday, a woman named Maria Farmer filed a lawsuit against the federal government that begins with a paragraph both familiar and chilling: 'For nearly a quarter of a century,' Farmer charges, Jeffrey Epstein got away with a 'wide-ranging sex trafficking venture' in which she was one of hundreds of victims. And worse, Farmer alleges, the high-profile financier was able to do so because the FBI, Justice Department and United States Attorneys' offices 'failed to listen to or protect his sex-trafficked, sexually abused, and sexually exploited victims.' Indeed, Farmer alleges that she first reported to the FBI that she was sexually assaulted by Epstein and his partner Ghislaine Maxwell in 1996, that she told the agent that Epstein had also committed 'multiple serious sex crimes' against other girls and young women, including one of her minor sisters; that Epstein had stolen and transported across state lines nude and partially nude pictures of both of her minor sisters; and that, with others, Epstein was producing and distributing content that could constitute child pornography. (In 2022, Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison after a jury convicted her of multiple sex trafficking-related charges; she is currently serving her sentence in a Tallahassee, Florida, federal prison and recently asked the Supreme Court to overturn her conviction.) Nonetheless, Farmer alleges, the FBI agent hung up on her and never followed up, leaving Epstein to 'exponentially" multiply his abuse and trafficking of girls and young women over the ensuing decades. (The FBI declined NBC News' request for comment on the lawsuit, citing its standard practice of not commenting on litigation.) In some respects, Farmer's lawsuit is not news. That she and her sisters were both victimized by Epstein and allegedly ignored by federal authorities has been reported for years. Nor is she the first Epstein victim to sue the federal government for its alleged failure to protect them from his manipulation, abuse and threats. Another similar suit now features 28 plaintiffs who accuse the FBI of 'gross negligence and reckless indifference' to Epstein and his associates' sexual abuse and trafficking of them and others for two decades. These lawsuits also seem unlikely to succeed for several reasons, including but not limited to the plaintiffs' sheer delay in bringing them. But the existence of Farmer's and others' suits, and the plaintiffs' collective demand that the FBI right its wrongs, demands our attention. That's especially true because what the victims seem to most want from the FBI — accountability for their ongoing trauma and internal reform to ensure something like the Epstein saga never recurs — contrasts with the growing MAGA-world hunger for more information about Epstein's crimes, his co-conspirators and his suicide, which many in Trump-world have baselessly alleged was actually a murder. That pressure has been escalating since February, when Attorney General Pam Bondi released a couple hundred pages of documents, most of which had already been disclosed publicly. The February release spurred many — including Bondi herself — to angrily accuse the FBI of concealing relevant records and/or to continue speculating about which famous or otherwise distinguished Americans were complicit in Epstein's sex trafficking ring. Republicans were not the only disappointed audience; Rep. Dan Goldman, a prominent New York Democrat and Donald Trump critic, characterized the release as 'a ham-handed attempt to gaslight the American people' while asking whether Trump, who knew and socialized with Epstein long before entering political life, 'intervened to prevent the public release of the Epstein files in order to hide his own embarrassing and potentially criminal conduct.' In early May, Bondi told reporters that the FBI was 'diligently' going through 'tens of thousands of videos of Epstein with children or child porn' involving 'hundreds of victims' whose identities would need to be protected in any release of such materials. Yet Bondi remains under scrutiny by other Trump allies who either doubt that she has such records, including because of a belief that prior Justice Department officials have destroyed them, or because they're simply impatient to learn whether Epstein had ties to the U.S. government or 'specific intelligence agencies.' And in the meantime, to apparently relieve some of the Epstein-related anxiety, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino himself pledged last week to release surveillance video from the Manhattan federal jail where Epstein died, which both Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel now say demonstrate that Epstein was alone in his cell that night and therefore died of suicide. But from the victims' perspective, of course, how Epstein died, much less how he lived, is a secondary, if not needlessly salacious, detail. From their own experiences, they know what he did, to whom and with whom. What the victims deserve — beyond the continued privacy to which Bondi rightfully has said they are entitled — is not an 'all hands on deck' review, redaction, and possible release of sickening videos or Epstein case file documents by agents who've been diverted from national security matters. What they deserve is a DOJ and an FBI willing to examine and reform their own procedures for handling sexual assault and trafficking reports. After all, it's been more than two years since Farmer's lawyer wrote the FBI and DOJ a 15-page letter asking for "a comprehensive investigation to determine why there was and remains such abject failure to timely investigate, expose, and prosecute this unprecedented, decades-long criminal conspiracy." That kind of internal investigation and reform may not satiate those still poring over Epstein's little black book — but it would get closer to real justice for his victims. This article was originally published on