Latest news with #Politico
Reuters
15 minutes ago
- Politics
- Reuters
South Sudan offers to accept more US deportees, Politico reports
July 30 (Reuters) - South Sudan has told the administration of President Donald Trump it is willing to consider accepting more migrants deported from the United States, Politico reported on Wednesday. The African country has also urged Washington to lift sanctions imposed on one of its top officials, the report added, citing people familiar with the matter and diplomatic correspondence. Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
The Independent
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Massachusetts mayoral candidate Geoffrey Epstein has to keep reminding people he's not Jeffrey Epstein
Name recognition can be helpful for prospective political candidates — just look at the Kennedys — but it's been more of a thorn in the side for Framingham, Massachusetts, mayoral candidate Geoffrey Epstein. The Australian -born Epstein said he's been making a point to remind people that he's not the notorious child sex trafficker and former pal of Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein. The infamous Epstein died in 2019 in the Metropolitan Detention Center while he was awaiting trial, but that hasn't stopped angry — and apparently quite out of date — commenters on social media demanding that he "show us the files," referring to the rumored Epstein client list. 'My guy. Might wanna pull out of the race if that's your name. Or, you could show us the files,' one commenter wrote on the mayoral candidate's Facebook page. Thankfully, according to the mayoral candidate, most of his prospective constituents can differentiate the two. He told Politico that "no one locally cares about that at all," noting that the Epstein with the creepy island was "a dead American, and I'm an alive Australian." It's an especially tough time to have Epstein as a surname if you're involved in politics, as the disgraced financier has been front and center in the news due to the Trump administration's failure to produce the sex trafficker's rumored 'client list.' After Trump and Bondi failed to produce the alleged client list, some of Trump's longtime supporters — including podcaster Joe Rogan and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino — criticized the White House's handling of the situation. But it's not all bad news for Geoffrey Epstein; another politician who shares both his first and last names with men accused of horrific crimes not only ran for office, but won. According to Politico, New York state assembly member Harvey Epstein — whose name is the unfortunate combination of disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein's first name and Epstein's surname — feels the Australian mayor-hopeful's pain, but believes there's a lot more to a person than a name. 'My advice to Geoffrey would be to lead with your values and who you are as a candidate,' Harvey said. 'People will support you if you do the work and follow through.' Epstein — who goes by Geoff — told the publication he got into the race to try to tackle issues he's seen with the city's infrastructure, environmental action, and education. He's pitched expanding solar installation on school roofs and parking lots, and using more of the city's funds to pay for education. He's got strong competition in the city's incumbent Mayor Charlie Sisitsky, but if Harvey Epstein can pull it out despite his name, maybe there is hope for Geoffrey.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Pete Hegseth in hot water: Pentagon boss told to shape up or face the axe, sources say
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been warned in private to change his behavior or he could be removed from his job. The warning came after a series of scandals involving Hegseth that have embarrassed the Pentagon and the White House. One major controversy started when Hegseth fired three Pentagon staffers this spring — Darin Selnick, Dan Caldwell, and Colin Carroll — accusing them of leaking information, but without offering solid proof, say Politico sources. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Data Science healthcare Others CXO Management Operations Management Leadership Finance MCA Product Management Artificial Intelligence PGDM Degree Project Management others Public Policy Healthcare Digital Marketing Cybersecurity MBA Data Analytics Technology Design Thinking Data Science Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Postgraduate Cert in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Prof Cert in DS & BA with GenAI India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 30 Weeks IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK-AI for Senior Executives India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK DABS India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIT Madras CERT-IITM Advanced Cert Prog in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 30 Weeks IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK-AI for Senior Executives India Starts on undefined Get Details Officials inside and outside the Pentagon were so concerned, they held an 'intervention' with Hegseth. White House officials and aides to Vice President JD Vance even began their own investigation to find out if the fired staffers were actually responsible for leaks — but they found no evidence. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo ALSO READ: Bryan Johnson plans to shut down multi-million dollar anti-aging startup blueprint amid scaling and credibility challenges Hegseth's team couldn't provide any clear proof that the three men leaked anything, which made the situation worse. A person close to Hegseth told Politico, 'There's going to be more shoes to drop all around,' suggesting more problems or scandals might come out soon. Live Events More scandals keep coming Another major scandal involved a Signal group chat, where members of the Trump administration, including Hegseth, discussed plans to bomb Houthi rebel targets in Yemen. The Signal chat accidentally included Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic, who was not supposed to be there, which made the situation even more embarrassing, as stated by Politico report. Hegseth also reportedly tried to stop U.S. military aid from reaching Ukraine, even though that decision was not his to make. President Trump later reversed Hegseth's decision and pretended he didn't know who had stopped the aid, even though Hegseth was sitting right next to him during a press interaction. Last week, the Daily Mail reported that several Pentagon officials now want Hegseth to be removed because of all the controversies. The Washington Post also reported that the Signal chat included messages that may have contained classified U.S. government information, which could lead to serious consequences, as per the report by Politico. Some people close to Hegseth are now urging him to apologize to the three aides he fired, in hopes of calming down the crisis. One source told Politico: 'If there's any chance of Pete resetting and ensuring that whatever time he has left in this position is well served, he's got to. Otherwise Pete is just doubling down on the lie.' White House still supports him According to the reports, despite everything, the White House and Pentagon are still standing by Hegseth, and have not taken steps to remove him yet, multiple outlets confirm. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told the Daily Beast that under Trump and Hegseth, military recruitment is breaking records and that Hegseth is 'reviving the warrior ethos' and putting 'America First.' ALSO READ: Texas lake hits 100% capacity after 15 years — officials urge caution amid flooding fears White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told the Daily Beast that President Trump has 'full confidence' in Hegseth, and praised his leadership of the Department of Defense. Kelly also highlighted that Hegseth played a 'critical role' in Operation Midnight Hammer, a military mission that bombed Iranian military targets. She said Hegseth is prioritizing warfighters, eliminating terrorists, and restoring 'common sense' to the U.S. military. However, not everyone agrees with the praise — one anonymous critic told Politico: 'If they want to give Pete a pass—fine. Because at the end of the day, he's going to keep f---ing up.' Vice President JD Vance's office did not respond when The Daily Beast reached out for a comment on the situation, as per the report by Politico. FAQs Q1. Why is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth facing calls to be fired? Pete Hegseth is facing calls to be fired because of scandals involving wrongful firings, secret chats leaking information, and blocking military aid without proof. Q2. Is the White House still supporting Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary? Yes, the White House says it has full confidence in Pete Hegseth and supports his leadership despite the controversies.
Russia Today
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Trump ‘schmoozes' with world leaders on personal mobile
US President Donald Trump has been conducting an unconventional form of diplomacy from his personal mobile phone, fielding direct calls and texts from world leaders, Politico has reported. Leaders get in touch to discuss geopolitical matters but also 'just to schmooze,' according to the outlet. During his first term, Trump reportedly surprised French, Canadian, and Mexican leaders by ditching the usual protocols and handing out his private number. The practice has continued in his second term, Politico wrote on Sunday. 'He's talking to a lot of leaders way more than anyone realizes,' one source said. 'A lot of the calls are about specific things, real business, but there's also more informal, personal talk.' Trump's regular contacts reportedly include French President Emmanuel Macron, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. One source described a recent call between Trump and Macron as the two 'bro-ing out' over the phone. 'It was oddly amusing – Trump would say 'Emmanuellllll' and really draw out the L, and then Macron would go, 'Donaldddddd' and draw out the D,' the source said. Frequent and mostly undisclosed phone and text chats allow foreign leaders to 'build more chemistry with Trump,' Politico noted. The approach reportedly helps improve personal relationships and leads to 'more favorable outcomes.' The spontaneity, however, tends to unfold on Trump's terms, the outlet wrote, citing Finnish President Alexander Stubb flying to Florida for a round of golf and lunch in March. Trump's personal diplomacy also comes with risks. Last month, he posted screenshots of private text messages from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on his Truth Social platform. American journalist Bob Woodward claimed in a 2024 book that Trump made as many as seven private calls to Russian President Vladimir Putin after his first term ended in 2021. Woodward also reported that Trump sent Putin Covid-19 test machines for his personal use as the virus began spreading in 2020. According to the book, Putin told Trump not to tell anyone, but Trump said he didn't care if anyone knew. The Kremlin acknowledged the delivery in 2024 but denied the phone calls took place.
UPI
a day ago
- Politics
- UPI
DOJ files misconduct complaint against Judge James Boasberg
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Monday that a complaint has been filed against a judge who President Donald Trump threatened to impeach. File Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo July 29 (UPI) -- Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday evening announced that a misconduct complaint has been filed against District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg "for making improper public comments" about President Donald Trump, amid his administration's targeting of the U.S. judicial system. Boasberg, a President Barack Obama appointee, has rejected Trump's attempt to deport hundreds of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador to be interned in a notorious mega prison for terrorists, attracting the ire of the president, who has called for the judge's impeachment. The complaint, obtained by both Politico and Courthouse News, focuses on comments made by Boasberg to Chief Justice John Roberts and some two dozen other judges who attended a March 11 judicial conference. According to the document, Boasberg said he believed that the Trump administration would "disregard rulings of federal courts," which would trigger "a constitutional crisis." The Justice Department alleges that the comments deviated from the administrative matters generally discussed at the conference and were intended to influence Roberts and the other judges. The conference was held amid litigation on Trump's ability to summarily deport the Venezuelan migrants, and days before Boasberg ruled against the administration. He also ruled that Trump had deported the migrants to El Salvador in violation of his order -- an order that was vacated in April by a divided Supreme Court. The complaint states that within days of making the alleged comments, he "began acting on his preconceived belief that the Trump administration would not follow court orders." "These comments have undermined the integrity of the judiciary, and we will not stand for that," Bondi said in a statement on X announcing the filing of the complaint. The Trump administration has attracted staunch criticism from the legal profession over actions it has taken that have been described as targeting the independence of the U.S. judiciary system. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has threatened to impeach judges who rule against him, including Boasberg, described them as "rouge judges," sanctioned law firms and lawyers linked to his political adversaries and has ignored or defied rulings he disagrees with. His administration most recently fired newly appointed U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Desiree Leigh Grace because the New Jersey judges did not select Trump's pick for the position. The complaint against Boasberg was signed by Chad Mizelle, chief of staff for Bondi, who alleged in a statement that Boasberg's March comments violated the Canons of the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges. "Federal judges often complain about the decline of public trust in the judiciary," he said on X. "But if the judiciary simply ignores improper conduct like Judge Boasberg's, it will have itself to blame when the public stops trusting it." The Justice Department, in the complaint, is asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to launch a special investigation to determine whether Boasberg's conduct constitutes prejudice against the Trump administration. It also seeks "interim corrective measures," including reassignment of the cases related to the deportation of the Venezuelan migrants to another judge. The complaint is also the second that the Trump administration has filed against a judge. In February, Bondi filed a complaint -- which is still under review -- against Judge Ana Reyes for "hostile and egregious misconduct" against the Trump administration during litigation on the president's executive order to ban transgender service members from the military.
