Alleged leader of Mexican kidnapping ring released after nearly 20 years in prison
Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez on Friday rattled off a list of appeals, injunctions and complaints filed over the years of Israel Vallarta's imprisonment in a case that never arrived at a verdict.
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
This Texas Democrat Is Stuck Inside The Statehouse After Refusing A GOP-Mandated Law Enforcement Escort
Texas state representative Nicole Collier spent last night on the floor of the statehouse. Collier was one of more than 50 Texas Democrats who left the state earlier this month in protest of Republican-led redistricting that would likely flip five national House of Representatives seats from Democrat to Republican. Texas Democrats have described the plan as "gerrymandering," which means dividing up the district map strategically for the purpose of political gains. Related: Now that Collier and her fellow Democrats have returned to Texas, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows said Monday that representatives who had warrants issued against them during their absence would not be allowed to leave the chamber without agreeing to one very specific condition. "Members who have not been present until today, for whom arrest warrants were issued, will be granted written permission to leave only after agreeing to be released into the custody of a designated [Department of Public Safety] officer appointment under the rules of the house." Collier, however, refused the escort, which led to her spending the night in the Texas statehouse. In a statement to the Fort Worth Report, Collier wrote, "I don't know how long I will be here. Instead of DPS officers looking for pedophiles, they have been assigned to follow Democratic state representatives around only to ensure their return to the Capitol on Wednesday (when the House reconvenes). I sure hope the public feels safe without those officers on beat." Related: According to Republican Rep. Charlie Geren, Collier may stay in the chamber or go to her office, but she is not allowed to leave the state capitol grounds. She is the only Democrat who refused a law enforcement escort, but other members have reportedly visited her. Online, people have a lot of thoughts about the situation. "They have a duly elected lawmaker locked in the Texas Capitol because she refused her Republican-assigned police babysitter," one person wrote. Related: In a tweet, Representative Jasmine Crockett called it "beyond outrageous," and wrote, "That's some old Jim Crow playbook. Texas Republicans have lost their damn minds." Some are calling it "kidnapping." And others are calling it "authoritarianism." Related: But others are applauding Collier for taking a stand, like this Arizona state senator who wrote simply, "American hero." As one Twitter user put it, "Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear bonnets!" Also in In the News: Also in In the News: Also in In the News:
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Epstein Files: DOJ Starts Giving Congress Documents This Week
The chairman of the House Oversight Committee said Monday the Justice Department should start turning over files related to Jeffrey Epstein later this week—though it remains unclear when—and if—they could be made public, and critics warn the piecemeal approach could allow the Trump administration to further delay the release of most documents. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., speaks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington D.C. on August 18. Copyright 2025 J. Scott Applewhite. All rights reserved House Oversight Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., confirmed in a statement Monday the DOJ will start turning over documents to the committee on Friday, after lawmakers issued a subpoena for documents related to Epstein's case earlier this month. The committee asked for the documents by Tuesday, but Comer said 'it will take the Department time to produce all the records and ensure the identification of victims and any child sexual abuse material are redacted.' Comer noted the DOJ has 'many records' in its custody that the subpoena covers, and did not say how long it could take for all the documents to be turned over to lawmakers. It is also not clear if the documents will be made public, with the Washington Post noting it's unclear if the lawmakers will be required to keep them private. As part of its investigation, the House Oversight Committee also subpoenaed a number of former government officials to testify about their knowledge of the Epstein investigation, with the first interview on Monday with former Attorney General William Barr. Comer's office has not yet responded to a request for comment about the files and whether they'll be made publicly available, and the Justice Department has not yet responded to a request for comment. House Oversight's subpoena to the DOJ called for it to turn over a broad variety of documents, including all documents and communications relating to Epstein and associate Ghislaine Maxwell that are 'further relating or referring to human trafficking, exploitation of minors, sexual abuse, or related activity.' That includes documents from the government's investigations into Epstein and Maxwell and their resulting prosecutions, as well as the government's 2007 investigation into Epstein that resulted in a non-prosecution agreement allowing him to escape more serious legal consequences. The subpoena also calls for documents and communications related to Epstein's death, and Republicans on the House Oversight Committee added a request for all communications between former President Joe Biden's White House and the DOJ regarding Epstein. Jack Scarola, an attorney representing some of Epstein's victims, told MSNBC Monday there are a number of documents the DOJ has in its possession that could shed additional light on Epstein's case, such as a 80-page prosecution memorandum that was drafted in 2007 covering the government's investigation into Epstein, and a federal indictment from the time that was never filed due to the financier's resulting non-prosecution agreement. Chief Critics Democrats and advocates for Epstein's victims have been critical of Comer's statement saying the DOJ would 'start' turning over documents on Friday, suggesting the apparent piecemeal approach to complying with the subpoena could be a way for the Trump administration and Republicans to further delay any documents being released. 'What I see … is the continuation of a massive, government-sponsored coverup,' Scarola told MSNBC Monday about Comer's statement on the documents being turned over. 'What the victims have received repeatedly is deception, delay and diversion, and this is one more example of that unfortunate re-vicimization.' Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said Monday they would oppose any delay of the documents being released, or attempts by the DOJ to limit what gets turned over, saying, 'Late or partial disclosures won't cut it.' The committee's minority wing said they want 'transparency, and we can't trust the DOJ to be honest,' adding on X, 'We will keep pressing until the American people get the truth.' In addition to Barr, the House Oversight committee has so far issued subpoenas to former Attorneys General Alberto Gonzales, Jeff Sessions, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder and Merrick Garland, as well as former FBI Directors Robert Mueller and James Comey. The committee has also subpoenaed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton, who has been identified as a friend of Epstein's, but has never been accused of wrongdoing and has denied any knowledge of Epstein's alleged sexual abuse. Democrats have pushed for the committee to subpoena Alex Acosta, the prosecutor who negotiated Epstein's previous non-prosecution agreement—and later went on to become President Donald Trump's labor secretary. While Acosta is so far not on the list of subpoenaed witnesses, Comer did not rule out that he could still be called to testify, telling reporters Monday, 'We'll bring in everyone that we think can add information to the investigation.' What About Ghislaine Maxwell? Lawmakers have separately subpoenaed Maxwell, who has been identified as Epstein's primary associate in his sexual abuse scheme and is now serving a 20-year prison sentence connected to her work with the financier. But it's unclear if Maxwell will actually testify, despite her sitting down with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche for two days of interviews in July. Maxwell's attorney sent a letter to lawmakers in July saying Maxwell will only 'cooperate' with Congress if certain conditions are met, including lawmakers either waiting until after Maxwell's appeal process of her conviction has concluded, or helping her secure a pardon or other 'clemency' from her criminal sentence. How Long Will The Investigation Take? While it remains to be seen how long it will take the DOJ to turn over all its Epstein-related documents to the House Oversight Committee, it will take until at least October for the committee to gather information for its probe. The committee's interviews with subpoenaed witnesses are scheduled through Oct. 14, and it's still possible more could be added after that date. What To Watch For Another vote on making the Epstein documents public. Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., intend to call for a House vote on unsealing the Epstein files and forcing the Trump administration to make them public after Congress returns from its August recess. The lawmakers have scheduled a press conference for Sept. 3 to discuss their bill, The Hill notes, though it's unclear when any vote could take place. Epstein was a financier known for his coterie of high-profile clients and friends, and was accused of sexually abusing more than 100 women prior to his arrest and subsequent death in prison in 2019. Interest in his case has surged this summer after the DOJ released a memo in July saying it would not release any further Epstein files, also debunking a number of theories related to the financier, such as the existence of a so-called 'client list.' The memo came after top Trump officials like Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel had long promised the files' release—and played a role in spreading the conspiracy theories the memo debunked—sparking broad public backlash, including from Trump's base. A subcommittee on the GOP-controlled House Oversight Committee voted 8-2 in July to subpoena the DOJ for the Epstein documents amid the public uproar, with Democrats initially calling for the vote but ultimately being joined by several Republicans in supporting the subpoenas. Further Reading Forbes House GOP Subpoenas Epstein Files And The Clintons By Sara Dorn Forbes These MAGA Leaders Are Heeding Trump's Call And Backing Off 'Epstein List' By Sara Dorn Forbes Here's What Jeffrey Epstein Was Accused Of, Convicted For—And The New Questions By Zachary Folk Forbes Ghislaine Maxwell's Lawyer Tells Congress She'll Only Testify After Appeal Is Over—Or If Trump Pardons Her By Alison Durkee
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Mexico's President Denies New D.E.A. Partnership Against Cartels
The news release from the Drug Enforcement Administration trumpeted a 'bold bilateral initiative' with the Mexican government to crack down on cartels that smuggle drugs across the southern border. It was the sort of collaboration that both Mexico and the United States have called necessary and welcome to combat the powerful cartels, which have driven a wedge between the two nations. But on Tuesday morning, a day after the D.E.A.'s announcement, President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico opened her daily news conference by saying she had no idea what U.S. officials were talking about. 'I want to clarify something,' she said. 'There is no agreement with the D.E.A. The D.E.A. issues the statement, we don't know based on what. We haven't reached any agreement — none of the security institutions have — with the D.E.A.' The D.E.A. did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It appeared the news release was briefly taken offline shortly after her comments, but it was available again Tuesday morning. The confusion was the latest public divergence between the Mexican and U.S. governments, amid an intense pressure campaign by the Trump administration to get Mexico to do more against cartels that has often left Ms. Sheinbaum on the defensive. President Trump has repeatedly said Mexico must intensify the fight against cartels and curb the flow of fentanyl across the United States-Mexico border. Ms. Sheinbaum has said Mexico is doing just that, and indeed operations are up and fentanyl seizures at the border are down, according to officials in both countries. Ms. Sheinbaum has said that some of that success has been the fruit of longstanding cooperation between Mexican and U.S. authorities. And she has repeatedly suggested, including on Tuesday, that the two countries are on the verge of significantly expanding their teamwork against cartels in a new security agreement that is being negotiated. 'This agreement is about to be signed, and it is fundamentally based on sovereignty, mutual trust, territorial respect — that is, that each nation operates in its own territory — and coordination without subordination,' she said on Tuesday. This month, The New York Times reported that Mr. Trump had directed the Pentagon to explore military action against cartels his administration has declared terrorist organizations, most of which are in Mexico. That prompted another strong pushback from Ms. Sheinbaum. 'The United States is not going to come to Mexico with the military,' she said at the time. 'We cooperate, we collaborate, but there is not going to be an invasion. That is ruled out.' The contradiction this week may be the result of miscommunication and disagreement on how to frame the two nations' work together, as the Trump administration seeks to publicize its action against cartels while Ms. Sheinbaum's government tries to manage its image with a Mexican public wary of U.S. interventionism. The D.E.A. announcement announced 'a major new initiative' to fight cartels with Mexico, centered around 'Project Portero, D.E.A.'s flagship operation aimed at dismantling cartel 'gatekeepers,' operatives who control the smuggling corridors along the southwest border.' The D.E.A. said such 'gatekeepers' helped smuggle drugs into the United States and guns and cash into Mexico. The agency said the project involved 'a multiweek training and collaboration program' in the United States that would bring together 'Mexican investigators with U.S. law enforcement, prosecutors, defense officials and members of the intelligence community' to 'identify joint targets, develop coordinated enforcement strategies and strengthen the exchange of intelligence.' The release quoted the agency's administrator, Terrance Cole, as saying the project was 'a bold first step in a new era of cross-border enforcement, and we will pursue it relentlessly until these violent organizations are dismantled.' Ms. Sheinbaum suggested that was overdoing it. 'The only thing is a group of police officers from the Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection who were taking a workshop in Texas,' she said. 'That's all there is. There is nothing else. We do not know why they issued this statement.' That group consisted of four officers, she said. 'The only thing we will always ask for is respect — always,' she added. 'So if you are going to share something regarding Mexico that's a security matter, all we ask is that it's done within the collaborative framework we have, and that it isn't inaccurate.'
