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The Guardian
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Trump says Epstein ‘stole' Virginia Giuffre from Mar-a-Lago staff role
Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that Jeffrey Epstein, the late sex offender he socialized with for more than a decade, 'stole' Virginia Giuffre and other young female staffers whom he hired away from the president's Mar-a-Lago country club. Speaking to reporters onboard Air Force One as he returned to Washington from Scotland, Trump was asked to elaborate on his earlier comments about falling out with Epstein because he took employees from his business. The president said on Monday that he had kicked Epstein out of his club 'because he did something that was inappropriate' – specifically, that 'he stole people that worked for me'. Senior White House aides have repeatedly suggested in recent weeks that Trump broke with Epstein in about 2004 and expelled him from the Mar-a-Lago club for inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature. In a statement last week, spokesperson Steven Cheung said Trump 'kicked him out of his club for being a creep'. The president's account of the break being motivated by pique at having his employees poached by his friend cast the break in a different light. On Tuesday, a reporter asked Trump: 'The workers that were taken from you – were some of them young women?' Trump replied: 'The answer is yes, they were. People that worked in the spa.' Another reporter then asked if Trump one of the people he was referring to was Giuffre, one of Epstein's most prominent accusers who said in a sworn complaint that she was hired away from the Mar-a-Lago spa by Epstein's accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell in 2000, when she was 16. Giuffre, who died this year, alleged in her complaint that she was first abused by Epstein and Maxwell together, and then 'lent out to other powerful men', including Prince Andrew. 'I think she worked at the spa,' Trump replied. 'I think so. I think that was one of the people, yeah. He stole her. And by the way, she had no complaints about us, as you know. None whatsoever.' The president and his administration are working desperately to change the subject away from Epstein – an issue that has lately roiled his base. But his latest claim that one of those employees was the 16-year-old Giuffre also complicates the timeline. Giuffre was hired away from Mar-a-Lago in 2000, but two years later, Trump spoke highly of Epstein to a reporter. 'I've known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy,' Trump told New York magazine in late 2002. '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.' Sarah Blaskey, a Miami Herald investigative reporter, also pointed out in her 2020 book on Mar-a-Lago that Epstein remained on the membership rolls of Mar-a-Lago until October 2007, more than a year after he was first arrested and charged with soliciting prostitution from a minor. Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with Epstein to sexually traffic minors, has offered to testify before Congress but has asked lawmakers to give her immunity, along with other major conditions, according to a list of demands sent to the House oversight committee by her attorneys, seen by CNN. Lauren Gambino contributed reporting
Miami Herald
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Florida has no formal hurricane plan for Alligator Alcatraz
After weeks of requests from politicians and media, the state of Florida said it has no formal, completed plan for how to handle a hurricane at Alligator Alcatraz, the new immigrant detention site in the heart of the Everglades. Two weeks ago, the Miami Herald requested 'the completed hurricane/disaster plan for Alligator Alcatraz' from the Florida Department of Emergency Management. On Monday, department spokesperson Stephanie Hartman confirmed that no such record exists. 'There are no responsive records for this request,' she said in an email. This comes after a Friday press conference at the detention facility, where Gov. Ron DeSantis and FDEM head Kevin Guthrie issued a hearty defense of the state's ability to protect staff and detainees in the event of a disaster. Guthrie said his team had visited several prisons around the state to explore options for evacuating detainees there, but didn't commit to any specific plan. The governor has repeatedly said the tents and trailers at the site are equipped to handle hurricane winds to Category 2 strength — up to 110 mph — and that people onsite would have to be evacuated if more intense winds were expected. The facility already relies on generators for on-site power. Neither Guthrie nor the governor mentioned anythign about flood risks at the site, which already had water seeping into the air conditioned tents where detainees are housed after a particularly heavy rainstorm on opening day. 'I promise you that the hurricane guys have got the hurricane stuff covered,' Guthrie said. The lack of formal plans worries the facility's nearest neighbors, the Miccosukee Tribe, which wants to join a lawsuit to close Alcatraz on environmental grounds. Curtis Osceola, senior executive policy adviser for the Miccosukee Tribe, called the lack of plan 'reckless.' The tribe's housing, which surrounds the site, is made of rebar-reinforced concrete. It has 'extensive emergency management and evacuation plans,' including a shelter for tribal members in the strongest building in their complex. The hurricane plan is refreshed every year, Osceola said. Flooding is a perpetual issue during storms, he said. After Hurricane Irma dropped almost two feet of water on Big Cypress in 2017, the tribe needed pumps to keep the village dry, he said. Gladesmen in the area have reported that during particularly heavy rainstorms, even outside of hurricanes, rain can pile up and inundate the runway on the site, he said. 'If there are no plans, it certainly puts lives at risk during one of the most dangerous and unpredictable times of year for Florida,' he said. 'Everything about this just shows how poorly planned this was, and now that we're seeing there's no hurricane plan, it's proof positive that this was not thought through beyond making headlines.'
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Yikes': Critics Claim Trump Let Out Epic 'Freudian Slip' About Jeffrey Epstein
President Donald Trump on Monday denied ever visiting a private island belonging to late sex offender and his former friend Jeffrey Epstein. But Trump's critics are focusing on two unusual words he used when describing a potential trip to the infamous island: 'the privilege.' Trump was asked about why he kicked Epstein out of his private club some two decades ago, after the two had a falling out and before Epstein's first conviction in 2008. The president called it 'such old history' and said Epstein 'did something that was inappropriate.' The 'inappropriate' behavior was hiring some of Trump's staff. 'He stole people that work for me,' Trump said. 'I said, 'Don't ever do that again.' He did it again, and I threw him out of the place. Person non grata. I threw him out, and that was it. I'm glad I did.' But then he added unprompted that he never visited Little Saint James, Epstein's private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands and one alleged scene in his child sex trafficking operation. 'And by the way, I never went to the island,' Trump said, while accusing others of doing so. 'I've, I never had the privilege of going to his island.' The island is just one of the homes owned by Epstein; many of the abuse allegations the late financier was charged with took place in Palm Beach, Florida, as The Miami Herald reported in 2018. 'Authorities suspect that he molested hundreds of girls over a five- or six-year period in Palm Beach alone and possibly operated an international sex-trafficking organization around the world,' Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown told NPR. And it was the president's two words about the island that drew criticism on social media, with many shocked he would refer to 'the privilege' of visiting it while denying he had done so: They're calling it the most well handled freudian slip in history — Isaac (@GalaxyPeaBrain) July 28, 2025 'I never had the privilege of going to Epstein Island.' - TrumpYikes man. — Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) July 28, 2025 top 3 freudian slip in history? — brandon* (@brndxix) July 28, 2025 Let's get Trump's position on Epstein straight:> Going to the sex-trafficking island would have been a "privilege."> The REAL crime Epstein committed was poaching his man is a monster and a moron. — Adam Mockler🇺🇸🦅 (@adammocklerr) July 28, 2025 I'm so tired, dude. 🙃 If a serial killer Freudian slipped up like this during an FBI interview, they'd call it a confession. He can literally just say whatever he wants, and there will never ever ever ever be consequences. This is fucked up and weird, and nothing will happen. — 🎃☠️ Scarlet Whit🦇🕸 (@WhitneyPuppy) July 28, 2025 This guy sus as hell.. — Rep. Jimmy Gomez (@RepJimmyGomez) July 28, 2025 In this clip, Donald Trump says he 'never had the 'privilege' of going to Epstein Island.'NEVER HAD THE PRIVILEGE?WHAT? — Lucas Sanders 💙🗳️🌊💪🌈🚺🟧 (@LucasSa56947288) July 28, 2025 Today Trump said 'I never had the privilege of going to [Epstein's] island.' So now everyone should be looking into if/when Trump went to the can we all agree that the way Trump said this was beyond disturbing?Don't forget to subscribe: — Scott Dworkin (@funder) July 29, 2025 We live in a world where the sitting president can say 'I never had the PRIVILEGE of going to the evil ass pedophile super rape island' and nobody bats an eye — Wemby Central 👽 (@WembyCentral) July 28, 2025 'I never had the privilege of going to the island' and 'I turned it down' … are in direct conflict. Incredible that these are sentences come one after the not sure I'd call going to an island where crimes against children took place a 'privilege' — Brandon Richards 🐻 (@BrandonRichards) July 28, 2025 Trump on Epstein: I never went to the island. I never had the privilege of going to the island. I turned it — Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) July 28, 2025 The 'privilege'? — B.W. Carlin (@BaileyCarlin) July 28, 2025 "The privilege" is crazy. — The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) July 28, 2025 'Privilege' — Static (@MightBeStatic) July 28, 2025 All the "best" words: In an insane moment, Donald Trump appears to lament with the most bizarre choice of words, saying "I never had the privilege of going to his island."He called a trip to Epstein's Island "a privilege." — Really American 🇺🇸 (@ReallyAmerican1) July 28, 2025
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Miami to offer free citizenship classes for immigrants after feds cut funding
Miami residents will have access to free citizenship classes again after the federal government cut funding for a program that's helped thousands of immigrants prepare for their naturalization exams. On Monday, Miami District 4 Commissioner Ralph Rosado announced that his office would allocate up to $10,000 to subsidize Miami-Dade County Public Schools' Fast Track to Citizenship courses, offered through the school district's adult education program. Earlier this month, the Miami Herald reported that Miami-Dade County Public Schools would stop offering the courses after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security determined the program 'no longer effectuates the program goals and the Department's priorities,' making it so that all federally funded work under the grant 'will be unallowable.' READ MORE: Miami-Dade school district ends citizenship classes for immigrants after federal cuts 'This is much more than just about funding a program,' Rosado said at a press conference Monday. 'It's about living our values as Americans and as Miamians. It's about living the values of opportunity and the belief that Miami's variety is our strength.' The course, which supports lawful permanent residents seeking U.S. citizenship, includes help with the 20-page naturalization application and preparation for the exam. Citizenship preparation courses have been taught through Miami-Dade schools in some form since at least the 1970s. The Fast Track to Citizenship courses were previously funded by the state before they were funded by the federal government. Rosado said his office would allocate up to $10,000, based on an estimate that approximately 150 people apply per year for a course that costs up to $65. He said that should be enough to keep the program running for another year. Rosado said his office has been in contact with the school district about his initiative. For now, the funding will only be available for residents in the city of Miami, where about 58% of residents are foreign born and more than 70% are Hispanic or Latino, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Rosado said it will go into effect in the fall, when the current grant is set to run out, but that he would work to make the funding available sooner if there's a shortfall. Rosado's announcement landed weeks after the city voted to enter an immigration enforcement agreement with ICE, deputizing Miami police officers with immigration enforcement powers. The commission voted 3-2 to enter into what's called a 287(g) agreement; Rosado was one of the three who voted in favor. Mayor Francis Suarez said the citizenship program has 'a clear track record of providing an important service to our community' but that it 'became a victim of funding cuts to Miami-Dade County public schools.' 'This financial investment will guarantee that those who are already on a pathway to citizenship will not face any obstacles in achieving that dream,' Suarez said. To apply for the program, Rosado said Miami residents can call (305) 558-8000 or go to In March, when the federal government announced it was ending funding for the Fast Track to Citizenship classes through Miami-Dade County Public Schools' adult education program, four locations continued to offer separate citizenship classes through the district's continuing education program. The school district told the Herald those citizenship courses will continue. But the courses are fee-based and can be expensive depending on the number of students who enroll. Students split the cost of teachers' salaries and materials based on the number of students. When the Herald first reported that the district was offering fee-based courses, there was no information on its website or social media, and the district said interested students had to show up in person at the locations to express interest and enroll.
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Miami Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Publix starts selling one of its holiday Pub Subs early, meaning right now
Christmas in July? Who knew there was a trend? Apparently, there are numerous ways to do a mid-year replication of the winter Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays by playing seasonal music, decorating the office with trees and ornaments festooned with summery things and creating playlists of holiday songs. Guess it's a way to pretend the Florida heat isn't overbearing or to get a jump start on the holidays. Publix got into the holiday spirit with the 'Christmas in July' early release of its traditional Turkey Cranberry Holiday Sub. 'For the first time ever, Publix brings back this beloved sub outside of the typical holiday season to spread cheer,' the Lakeland-based supermarket chain says on its website. 'Bringing it back in July is our way of adding a little joy to the summer season,' said Publix spokeswoman Lindsey Willis in an email to the Miami Herald. 'It's Christmas in July at Publix, and we're thrilled to surprise our fans with a sweet and savory favorite — while supplies last.' Willis couldn't say how long the perky Pub Sub will be at Publix delis, probably as long as supplies hold out. Or demand. The Turkey Cranberry Holiday Sub will return in the fall once the promotion winds down. The sub has been one of the grocer's annual hits for more than a decade. Here's what's in the Turkey Cranberry Holiday Sub. Your choice of sub roll. A new soft white Pub Sub roll was introduced in February so this would be your first chance to taste the holiday specialty without a mouth-crunching Head Ovengold Roasted Turkey Cranberry Orange Head Precooked Head Smoked Gruyere Cheese. Pair the holiday Pub Sub with a dessert scoop from one of Publix's limited edition 2025 summer ice creams — Freedom Berry Bliss, Home Run Caramel Popcorn or Strawberry Lime Chilly — for a real Florida-style 'Christmas in July' taste combo.
