Judge who drew calls for impeachment over DOGE ruling assigned to Maxwell transcript case
US District Judge Paul Engelmayer in Manhattan was assigned to the case on Monday. Maxwell's trial judge, Alison Nathan, is now a federal appellate judge.
The assignment came three days after the US government sought to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Epstein, the disgraced financier and sex offender who died by suicide in 2019 in jail after being charged with sex trafficking.
In a Friday court filing, the Department of Justice said the criminal cases against Epstein and Maxwell are a matter of public interest, justifying the release of associated grand jury transcripts.
Backers of conspiracy theories about Epstein have urged President Donald Trump to release a broad array of investigative files related to Epstein, not just grand jury transcripts. Separately, US District Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami was assigned on Monday to preside over Trump's $10-billion lawsuit accusing The Wall Street Journal of defaming him by claiming he created a lewd birthday greeting for Epstein in 2003.
Dow Jones, which publishes the Journal and is part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, said it will defend against the lawsuit, and had 'full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting.'
News Corp. and Murdoch are also defendants.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Journal had been removed from the press pool covering Trump's July 25-29 trip to Scotland because of its 'fake and defamatory conduct.'
'As the appeals court confirmed, the Wall Street Journal or any other news outlet are not guaranteed special access to cover President Trump in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and in his private workspaces,' Leavitt said in a statement.
A spokesperson for Dow Jones declined to comment on Leavitt's statement.
Earlier this year, the White House removed The Associated Press from pool coverage because it had continued to refer to the Gulf of Mexico by that name instead of Trump's preferred 'Gulf of America.'
Many Trump supporters view the judiciary as an impediment to the Republican president's policy and personal goals.
Each case could take several months or longer to resolve, followed by possible appeals.
Engelmayer and Gayles were appointed to the bench by Democratic President Barack Obama. US District Judge Richard Berman, an appointee of Democratic President Bill Clinton, will oversee the government's request for transcripts in Epstein's criminal case.
Engelmayer, 64, came under fire and drew Musk's scorn in February after temporarily blocking Musk's Department of Government Efficiency from accessing Treasury systems. Congressman Derrick Van Orden, a Wisconsin Republican, said impeachment was justified because the judge played politics in his decision, 'demonstrating clear bias and prejudice against the president and the 74,000,000 Americans who voted for him.'
Judicial impeachments are rare and normally reserved for serious misconduct, not disapproval of individual rulings.
Any unsealed transcripts are likely to be redacted, reflecting privacy or security concerns.
Gayles, 58, has been on the federal bench since 2014, after the US Senate approved his nomination by a 98-0 vote.
The Wall Street Journal case is at least the second Trump lawsuit he has overseen.
Gayles presided in 2023 over Trump's $500-million lawsuit accusing former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen of breaching fiduciary duties by revealing confidences and spreading falsehoods in books, podcasts, and media appearances. Trump voluntarily dismissed that case after six months. The lawyer who filed that case also filed the Journal lawsuit.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
EU to hold urgent Ukraine talks before Trump-Putin meeting
EU foreign ministers will hold emergency talks on Monday to discuss their next steps before talks between presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, as Europe fears any deal made without Ukraine could force unacceptable compromises. The two leaders will meet in the US state of Alaska on Friday to try to resolve the three-year war but the European Union has insisted that Kyiv and European powers should be part of any deal to end the conflict. For the latest updates on the Russia-Ukraine war, visit our dedicated page. The idea of a US-Russia meeting without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has raised concerns that a deal would require Kyiv to cede swathes of territory, which the EU has rejected. EU foreign ministers will discuss their next steps in a meeting by video link on Monday at 1400 GMT, joined by their Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiga. European leaders pushed hard over the weekend for Ukraine to be a part of the talks. 'The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine,' leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Britain and Finland, and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement, urging Trump to put more pressure on Russia. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday he hoped and assumed that Zelenskyy would attend the leaders' summit. Leaders of the Nordic and Baltic countries -- Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden -- also said no decisions should be taken without Kyiv's involvement. Talks on ending the war could only take place during a ceasefire, they added in a joint statement. Vice President JD Vance on Sunday said the United States is working to 'schedule' a meeting between Trump and his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts. 'Testing Putin' Asked on CNN if Zelenskyy could be present, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker responded that 'yes, I certainly think it's possible.' 'Certainly, there can't be a deal that everybody that's involved in it doesn't agree to. And, I mean, obviously, it's a high priority to get this war to end.' The EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said any deal between the United States and Russia to end the war had to include Ukraine and the bloc. 'The US has the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously. Any deal between the US and Russia must have Ukraine and the EU included, for it is a matter of Ukraine's and the whole of Europe's security,' she added. As a prerequisite to any peace settlement, Moscow has demanded Kyiv pull its forces out of the regions and commit to being a neutral state, shun US and EU military support and be excluded from joining NATO. Kyiv said it would never recognize Russian control over its sovereign territory, though it acknowledged that getting land captured by Russia back would have to come through diplomacy, not on the battlefield. Zelenskyy thanked those countries backing Kyiv's position in his Sunday evening address. 'Clear support for the fact that everything concerning Ukraine must be decided with Ukraine's participation. Just as it should be with every other independent state.'
Al Arabiya
4 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Trump vows to evict homeless from Washington, official says National Guard may be deployed
President Donald Trump pledged on Sunday to evict homeless people from the nation's capital and jail criminals, despite Washington's mayor arguing there is no current spike in crime. While details of the plan were unclear, the administration is preparing to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, a US official told Reuters, a controversial tactic Trump used recently in Los Angeles to tackle immigration protests over the objections of local officials. Trump has not made a final decision, the official said, adding that the number of troops and their role are still being determined. Unlike in California and every other state, where the governor typically decides when to activate Guard troops, the president directly controls the National Guard in Washington, D.C. Past instances of the Guard's deployment in the city include in response to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters. 'The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,' Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. 'We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you don't have to move out. We're going to put you in jail where you belong.' The White House declined to explain what legal authority Trump would use to evict people from Washington. The Republican president controls only federal land and buildings in the city. Trump plans to hold a press conference on Monday to 'stop violent crime in Washington, D.C.' It was not clear whether he would announce more details of his eviction plan then. There are 3,782 single persons experiencing homelessness on any given night in the city of about 700,000, says the Community Partnership, an organization working to reduce homelessness in D.C. Most such individuals are in emergency shelters or transitional housing, rather than on the street, it says. A White House official said on Friday more federal law enforcement officers were being deployed in the city following a violent attack on a young administration staffer that angered the president. Alleged crimes investigated by federal agents on Friday night included 'multiple persons carrying a pistol without license,' motorists driving on suspended licenses and dirt bike riding, a White House official said on Sunday. The official said 450 federal law enforcement officers were deployed across the city on Saturday. The city's police department says violent crime was down 26 percent in D.C. in the first seven months of 2025, compared with last year, while overall crime was down about 7 percent. The Democratic mayor of Washington, D.C., Muriel Bowser, said on Sunday the capital was 'not experiencing a crime spike.' 'It is true that we had a terrible spike in crime in 2023, but this is not 2023,' Bowser said on MSNBC's the Weekend. 'We have spent over the last two years driving down violent crime in this city, driving it down to a 30-year low.' Bowser said Trump was 'very aware' of the city's work with federal law enforcement after meeting him several weeks ago in the Oval Office. The US Congress has control of D.C.'s budget after the district was established in 1790 with land from neighboring Virginia and Maryland, but resident voters elect a mayor and city council. For Trump to take over the city, it is likely that Congress would have to pass a law revoking the law that established local elected leadership.
Arab News
16 hours ago
- Arab News
Savage capitalism: Thriving economy or fractured society?
In an era of polarized debates, two influential recent Washington Post articles shed light on America's economic and social challenges. Fareed Zakaria's piece, 'Don't believe the MAGA doomers on trade,' staunchly defends free trade as a pillar of the US' success. He posits that America has flourished under open markets and warns against upending global systems with misinformation. Conversely, Shadi Hamid's 'Men are struggling to find love. Here's why' delves into the romantic hardships faced by men, citing factors such as educational disparities, the pitfalls of dating apps and deepening gender divides. While both authors provide compelling analyses, they arguably underemphasize a pervasive force: 'savage capitalism,' a hypercompetitive system that enriches a minority while fostering inequality, debt and social disconnection. That said, capitalism's dynamism has undeniably spurred innovation, growth and opportunity. A balanced perspective requires weighing these benefits against the systemic costs to chart a path toward equitable progress. Zakaria's argument for free trade is rooted in historical evidence and economic data. Post-Second World War, the US-led Bretton Woods system established the dollar as the global reserve currency, facilitating unprecedented trade expansion. Zakaria highlights how agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement and World Trade Organization membership have elevated America's gross domestic product, with exports reaching $2.5 trillion annually. Manufacturing output also remains at an all-time high, in contrast to protectionist claims of decline. Booms driven by easy credit lead to asset bubbles, followed by busts that disproportionately harm the working class Dr. Turki Faisal Al-Rasheed He debunks 'exaggerations' by noting that job losses from offshoring are offset by gains in the services and tech sectors. Protectionism, as seen in President Donald Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum, has led to retaliatory measures from China and Europe, inflating costs for American consumers by an average of $1,200 per household, according to studies from the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Globally, free trade has lifted more than a billion people out of poverty, stabilized alliances and reduced conflict risks in a multipolar world. However, this narrative overlooks how savage capitalism twists free trade into a tool for elite enrichment. Ray Dalio's framework in 'How Countries Go Bankrupt' illustrates the debt-credit cycle: booms driven by easy credit lead to asset bubbles, followed by busts that disproportionately harm the working class. In the US, income inequality has soared — the top 1 percent captures 20 percent of national income, per Federal Reserve data, while median wages have stagnated since the 1970s despite productivity gains. Free trade's 'winners' are multinational corporations that exploit cheap labor abroad, decimating communities in places like the Midwest. Consider the opioid crisis in deindustrialized towns linked to economic despair or rising homelessness amid corporate tax cuts. Geopolitically, American commitments exacerbate imbalances. Annual military aid to Israel exceeds $3 billion, defended as vital for Middle East security against threats like Hamas, yet criticized by groups like Amnesty International for enabling Tel Aviv's actions in Gaza and the West Bank that fuel humanitarian concerns. This spending diverts resources from domestic priorities, such as Arizona's school voucher programs, which expand choice but have shuttered public schools due to funding shortfalls, underscoring misaligned investments in education amid technological disruptions that automate jobs. A vivid personal story underscores these realities. At a lavish Napa Valley party attended by individuals earning over a million dollars annually, I posed a provocative hypothesis to my American friend, who made $100,000 working in Saudi Arabia: 'You are richer than everyone here.' The room erupted in heated debate. Once calm returned, I explained. Most 'wealthy' attendees owned less than 5 percent of their assets outright, the rest was leveraged through loans from financial institutions. Challenging them to produce $25,000 from savings in a year elicited silence; even $5,000 seemed unattainable for many, as they are trapped in cycles of high-interest debt. Vacation time? A month was impossible; a week was a stretch. This revealed savage capitalism's trap: a paradigm in which income barely covers interest payments, leaving even high earners in perpetual liability. My debt-free friend, with disposable income and flexibility, embodied true financial freedom. The group fell into thoughtful silence, confronting how the system prioritizes institutional profits over personal security. America's strength lies in free trade and individualism, which drive innovation. But unchecked savage capitalism risks collapse Dr. Turki Faisal Al-Rasheed Turning to social dimensions, Hamid's exploration of men's romantic struggles is timely and nuanced. He outlines a 'crisis of connection' — men face higher unemployment and lower college enrollment rates, with women outpacing them in degrees by between 10 percent and 15 percent. Dating apps amplify this, creating a winner-takes-all dynamic in which the top profiles receive disproportionate attention. Studies show 80 percent of women message the top 20 percent of men. Cultural shifts, like #MeToo's emphasis on consent, have made approaches riskier, while political polarization widens rifts: young men lean conservative, women liberal, shrinking compatibility pools. Hamid, drawing from his Muslim background, notes the erosion of traditional structures like arranged marriages or community matchmaking, leaving individuals adrift. However, Hamid glosses over savage capitalism's role in amplifying these woes. Corporate-driven inequality breeds precarious gig economy jobs that offer no stability, deterring family formation. Debt burdens — from student loans averaging $30,000 to housing costs — heighten anxiety, making vulnerability in relationships unappealing. Individualism, a capitalist hallmark, celebrates autonomy but dismantles communal ties: family sizes shrink, religious affiliation drops (Pew research shows 29 percent of Americans to be unaffiliated) and social isolation rises, with one in three men reporting no close friends. Women, empowered by career advances, seek partners who match their ambitions, but systemic barriers leave many men economically sidelined. On the flip side, capitalism's opportunities foster personal growth; women's progress enhances societal equity and tech such as apps have facilitated millions of marriages. Globally, not all cultures succumb — parts of Asia or Europe with stronger social safety nets report higher relationship satisfaction. America's strength lies in free trade and individualism, which drive innovation in artificial intelligence, biotech and renewable energy, positioning it as a global leader. But unchecked savage capitalism risks collapse: debt-fueled volatility, as Dalio warns, could trigger inflation or austerity, while social fragmentation breeds extremism, evident in rising populism. Balanced solutions are imperative: reform trade deals with labor and environmental safeguards, redirect foreign aid toward diplomacy over militarism, and bolster domestic investments in universal healthcare, affordable education and infrastructure via bills like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Culturally, promote policies that rebuild communities, such as paid family leave, mental health support and incentives for civic engagement. Embracing multipolarity, with partners like the EU and emerging economies, can distribute burdens. As Zakaria and Hamid illustrate, dismissing critiques as 'lies' or surface issues ignores root causes; addressing them fosters resilience. True greatness demands equity for wallets and hearts, ensuring prosperity benefits all, not just the elite. • Dr. Turki Faisal Al-Rasheed is an adjunct professor at the University of Arizona's College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, in the Department of Biosystems Engineering. He is the author of 'Agricultural Development Strategies: The Saudi Experience.' X: @TurkiFRasheed
