Solely two extra Republicans wanted to power Home vote on Epstein information launch, congressman says
Democratic congressman Ro Khanna says the Home will likely be compelled to vote on laws to launch the Epstein information if two extra Republicans signal on to a petition he has launched together with Republican congressman Thomas Massie.
“We’d like simply two extra signatures to power the discharge,” Khanna stated. Up to now, they’ve acquired the signatures of 212 Democrats and 4 Republicans: Massie, Nancy Mace, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert.
These lawmakers are a few of the most conservative of their get together, however Khanna praised their assist of the discharge petition, which might power a vote on laws within the Home whether it is signed by a majority of lawmakers.
“We’ve acquired to cease the partisanship on this problem. This is a matter the place they each have proven actual braveness and management, and I admire them becoming a member of us right this moment,” Khanna stated of Greene and Massie.
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Trump calls clamor over Epstein information ‘Democrat hoax that by no means ends’
Requested on the White Home in regards to the push in Congress to launch the Epstein information, Donald Trump once more accused Democrats of orchestrating the controversy, and tried to alter the topic to his personal purported accomplishments.
“It is a Democrat hoax that by no means ends,” Trump stated. Referring to the current launch of paperwork associated to Jeffrey Epstein, he stated: “No person’s ever happy.”
“They’re making an attempt to get individuals to speak about one thing that’s completely irrelevant to the success that we’ve had as a nation since I’ve been president,” Trump stated. He went on to say credit score for making Washington DC a “completely protected zone” with “no crime, no murders, no nothing” – although crime, together with murders and robberies, have continued since he deployed the nationwide guard and took management of its police division.
One other boast from Trump: “I ended seven wars, no person’s going to speak about it as a result of they’re going to speak in regards to the Epstein no matter.” It’s unclear which seven he’s referring to, although his claims of getting quelled current preventing between Pakistan and India performed an element in souring the connection with New Delhi. He additionally has notably not ended the battle in Ukraine – one thing he boasted, on the marketing campaign path, that he may do proper after taking workplace.
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Up to date at 12.03 EDT
The White Home has referred to signing the discharge petition to launch the Epstein information as a “hostile act”, and discouraged Republicans from supporting it.
Thomas Massie, the Republican congressman who launched the petition and is one among 4 lawmakers from his get together who signed it, replied:
I don’t know if that’s precedented on this nation to have a president name legislators to say that they’re engaged in a hostile act, significantly when the so-called hostile act is making an attempt to get justice for individuals who’ve been victims of intercourse crimes.
He additionally stated that the truth that there was little new within the case paperwork launched yesterday might spur extra lawmakers to signal the petition:
What individuals are waking up and discovering proper now could be the oldsters who stayed up all evening to undergo the 34,000 particular person pages have discovered that they’re so redacted as to be ineffective and that a lot of them had been already accessible.
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A actuality verify on the discharge petition that would power a vote within the Home on laws to launch the Epstein information.
The petition wants two extra signatures – which can most likely have to return from Republicans – to succeed in the bulk threshold to compel the vote. However even when the petition receives that assist and the invoice passes the Home, the laws will nonetheless have to be accepted by the Senate, the place Republican majority chief John Thune has given no indication he’ll put it up for a vote.
Ought to it go the Senate, it faces one other impediment: Donald Trump. He’s condemned the furor over the Epstein information as a distraction created by the Democrats, and will veto the laws. That might punt the problem again to Congress, the place the invoice would wish two-thirds majority assist to beat his veto – a tall order.
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Up to date at 11.22 EDT
Marjorie Taylor Greene is among the many most outspoken conservatives in Congress, however has made a uncommon pact with the Democrats by signing the discharge petition that would power a vote on laws to launch the Epstein information.
“This is a matter that doesn’t have political boundaries. It’s a difficulty that Republicans and Democrats ought to by no means combat about. As a matter of truth, it’s such an necessary problem that it ought to deliver us all collectively,” she stated on the press convention convened by the petition’s sponsors exterior the Capitol.
“The reality wants to return out, and the federal government holds the reality. The circumstances which are sealed maintain the reality. Jeffrey Epstein’s property holds the reality. The FBI, the DoJ and the CIA holds the reality. And the reality we’re demanding comes out on behalf of those ladies, but in addition as a robust message to each harmless little one, teenager, girl and man that’s being held captive in abuse. This could by no means occur in America, and it ought to by no means be a political problem that divides us.”
Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks to encourage launch of the Epstein information exterior the Capitol. {Photograph}: Jonathan Ernst/ReutersShare
Up to date at 11.07 EDT
Massie criticizes Home Republican leaders for dealing with of Epstein case
Republican congressman Thomas Massie, a co-sponsor of the discharge petition to power a Home vote on releasing the Epstein information, criticized how speaker Mike Johnson has dealt with the problem.
Yesterday, Johnson backed a decision that may direct the Home oversight committee to proceed its investigation of the federal government’s dealing with of the investigation into disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
“The speaker of the Home simply supplied a fig leaf to my colleagues. They’re going to vote on a non-binding decision right this moment that does completely nothing,” Massie stated.
He additionally downplayed the effectiveness of the oversight committee’s investigation, which is being led by Republican chair James Comer:
I admire the efforts of my colleague James Comer, who’s main the Oversight Committee. They might discover some info, however they’re permitting the [department of justice (DOJ)] to curate the entire info that the DOJ is giving them.
For those who’ve seemed on the pages they’ve launched thus far, they’re closely redacted. Some pages are totally redacted, and 97% of that is already within the public area.
Massie stated the easiest way to deliver transparency to the case is for lawmakers to signal his discharge petition and permit a vote on his invoice to launch the information:
I’m calling on my colleagues to be one of many subsequent two who sponsors this discharge petition. I feel it’s shameful that this has been known as a hoax. Hopefully right this moment we are able to clear that up. This isn’t a hoax. That is actual.
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Up to date at 10.56 EDT
Solely two extra Republicans wanted to power Home vote on Epstein information launch, congressman says
Democratic congressman Ro Khanna says the Home will likely be compelled to vote on laws to launch the Epstein information if two extra Republicans signal on to a petition he has launched together with Republican congressman Thomas Massie.
“We’d like simply two extra signatures to power the discharge,” Khanna stated. Up to now, they’ve acquired the signatures of 212 Democrats and 4 Republicans: Massie, Nancy Mace, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert.
These lawmakers are a few of the most conservative of their get together, however Khanna praised their assist of the discharge petition, which might power a vote on laws within the Home whether it is signed by a majority of lawmakers.
“We’ve acquired to cease the partisanship on this problem. This is a matter the place they each have proven actual braveness and management, and I admire them becoming a member of us right this moment,” Khanna stated of Greene and Massie.
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Shrai Popat
The bipartisan press convention from representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna simply began.
They’ll be offering an replace about their petition to get a decision, urging the discharge of the Epstein data, on the Home ground for a vote.
The world exterior the Capitol, generally known as the Home Triangle, is filled with reporters and demonstrators. Indicators calling Donald Trump “a pedophile” are raised alongside placards that accuse the Republican get together of a cover-up.
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Up to date at 10.43 EDT
The Home oversight committee yesterday launched about 30,000 pages of paperwork associated to Jeffrey Epstein, however, because the Guardian’s Dani Anguiano stories, a lot of the info in them was already public:
The US Home of Representatives oversight committee on Tuesday launched 1000’s of pages of data associated to the disgraced financier and convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein from the division of justice.
The discharge comes because the Trump administration has been embroiled in months of controversy over its choice to not launch further information within the case. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 whereas awaiting trial on sex-trafficking expenses and was alleged to have abused a whole lot of women.
The 33,000 pages included years-old courtroom filings associated to Epstein and his former girlfriend and affiliate Ghislaine Maxwell, in addition to what seems to be bodycam footage from police searches and police interviews. The information seem to comprise info that’s already public information.
The data had been posted on-line because the Trump administration was dealing with renewed consideration on the investigation into Epstein. With Congress again in session this week, Democratic and Republican representatives had deliberate to carry press conferences to demand better transparency from the administration within the case.
Donald Trump, a longtime buddy of Epstein and a part of his wealthy and highly effective social circle, has, in current weeks, tried to keep away from the topic. Earlier this yr he sued the Wall Road Journal for its reporting on his relationship with Epstein on a birthday observe Trump was alleged to have written to him. The president has known as the current Epstein controversy a hoax.
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Up to date at 10.34 EDT
Shrai Popat
This “Stand with Survivors” exterior the Capitol right this moment rally goals to middle those that suffered by the hands of the convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein. It’s separate from the bipartisan press convention by lawmakers calling for the whole launch of the Epstein information that’s scheduled to start at 10.30am.
“We’re right here to say, we see you, we imagine you and we won’t cease till justice is served,” stated Skye Roberts, the brother of Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide earlier this yr after years of talking out in regards to the abuse she skilled by the hands of Maxwell and Epstein.
“Ghislaine Maxwell should stay in a most safety jail for the remainder of her sentence. No leniency, no offers, no particular therapy,” he added. “The Epstein paperwork should be unsealed. Each title, each element, no extra secrets and techniques, no extra safety for individuals who preyed on the susceptible.”
Indicators on the rally are dotted among the many crowd, many echoing messages of assist for survivors: “We love you” and “we imagine you”. Whereas others are extra pointed, studying “guardians of the pedophiles” beneath footage of Donald Trump and Epstein collectively.
Teresa Helm, who was trafficked and groomed by Ghislaine Maxwell, instructed the gang right here that change was a foot. “Techniques constructed with a root of corruption, violence and deceit all the time crumble,” she stated. “Now could be the time to sift via and do away with the perpetrators and unhealthy actors.”
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Up to date at 10.38 EDT
Epstein survivor describes abuse as lawmakers push for launch of case information
Survivors of abuse by Jeffrey Epstein and their advocates are rallying exterior the Capitol to push for the discharge of paperwork associated to the federal government’s investigation of the disgraced financier and alleged intercourse trafficker.
“Our name to motion is crystal clear,” stated Lauren Hersh, nationwide director of anti-trafficking group World With out Exploitation, who known as to “launch the information” associated to the case.
Liz Stein spoke on the rally to explain the abuse she confronted by Epstein and his confederate, Ghislaine Maxwell:
I used to be as soon as vivid, enjoyable, outgoing and type. I cherished individuals and folks genuinely loved being round me, however after assembly Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, it felt like somebody shut off the lights to my soul. As an alternative of pursuing my dream of going to legislation college after commencement, overcoming the phobia and the trauma that was inflicted on me by these intercourse traffickers, overcoming that, turned my a long time lengthy, full-time profession.
Epstein survivor Liz Stein speaks exterior the Capitol right this moment. {Photograph}: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
The rally got here as a bipartisan group of Home lawmakers try to power a vote on laws to launch information associated to the case, over the objections of Donald Trump, who was as soon as pleasant with Epstein, and Republican speaker Mike Johnson:
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A whole bunch of present and former workers of the division of well being and human companies are calling on secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr to give up, the Guardian’s Richard Luscombe stories. Right here’s why:
A letter revealed on Wednesday from greater than 1,000 previous and current staff of the well being and human companies division (HHS) has demanded the resignation of Robert F Kennedy Jr, insisting the well being secretary’s assaults on vaccines endangered the lives of all Individuals.
The hard-hitting letter, addressed to Congress members, blames Kennedy for turmoil on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), together with the firing of the company’s chief and alternative by a Donald Trump loyalist with no medical or scientific background.
It comes two days after 9 former CDC officers wrote in a New York Occasions visitor essay that Kennedy’s management, and ousting of the CDC director, Susan Monarez, months after he appointed her, was “unacceptable” and “not like something we have now ever seen”.
The letter posted on Wednesday by a gaggle calling itself Save HHS assails Kennedy for “endangering the nation’s well being by spreading inaccurate well being info”.
It cites the resignations of different main well being officers, together with Demetre Daskalakis, director of CDC’s nationwide middle for immunization and respiratory ailments; Daniel Jernigan, the company’s director for rising and zoonotic infectious ailments; and Debra Houry, its chief medical officer.
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The Democratic vice-chair of the Senate intelligence committee Mark Warner stated the Trump administration cancelled his go to to a authorities facility after stress from far-right activist Laura Loomer.
Warner stated he was going to go to the headquarters of the Nationwide Geospatial-Intelligence Company in his residence state of Virginia, however the administration disinvited him after Loomer launched “a marketing campaign of baseless assaults” in opposition to him and the company’s director, Trey Whitworth.
“This nakedly political choice undermines the devoted, nonpartisan employees at NGA and threatens the precept of civilian oversight that protects our nationwide safety. Members of Congress routinely conduct conferences and on-site engagements with federal workers of their states and districts; blocking and setting arbitrary situations on these classes units a harmful precedent, calling into query whether or not oversight is now allowed solely when it pleases the far-right fringe,” Warner stated in a press release.
“This could concern Republicans in addition to Democrats: if routine oversight might be obstructed for political causes, no member of Congress is immune.”
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Up to date at 09.26 EDT
The Trump administration’s deployment of warships in direction of Venezuela prompted considerations within the nation that america was planning an invasion. Right here’s extra, from the Guardian’s Tom Phillips and Patricia Torres:
As US warships carrying cruise missiles and marines powered in direction of Venezuela’s shoreline this week, supporters of the South American nation’s president, Nicolás Maduro, warned a dastardly imperialist plot for an Iraq-style invasion was afoot.
“Nobody will lay their arms on this land!” Maduro thundered, calling on patriots to assist repel the supposed regime change operation by becoming a member of his “Bolivarian militia”.
Donald Trump’s allies posted incendiary social media messages, warning the Venezuelan autocrat the top was nigh. “Your days are severely numbered,” Trump’s former nationwide safety advisor, Michael Flynn, proclaimed, urging Maduro to purchase “a one-way ticket to Moscow”.
One other Trump supporter, Congressman Carlos Gimenez, celebrated “the most important navy presence we have now ever had off the coast of Venezuela” and instructed Maduro to just accept “his time is up!”
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Hegseth says US will perform extra strikes on suspected drug traffickers
Protection secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the US will proceed to make use of power in opposition to suspected drug traffickers, hours after the navy destroyed a ship within the Caribbean that was regarded as carrying medication from Venezuela.
In an interview with Fox Information this morning, Hegseth stated:
It is a lethal severe mission for us, and it received’t cease with simply this strike. Anybody else trafficking in these waters who we all know is a delegated Narco terrorist will face the identical destiny.
The US navy stated the strike killed 11 drug traffickers, days after the US deployed a number of warships into the Caribbean on what it stated was a mission to stem the circulation of narcotics into america. Right here’s extra:
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